A security certificate whose primary purpose is to secure data transmitted between a server and a website visitor’s browser is called an SSL certificate. It is applicable to any website, but is particularly popular with owners of online shops and other websites where sensitive personal or financial data is transferred between the website and visitors. The use of SSL certificates is not only recommended for a much higher level of data security, but also helps to improve the overall online presence.

Interested in why an SSL certificate would probably be of great benefit to you? Here are the 3 main benefits of using an SSL certificate.

1. Encrypting data increases the security of your website

As we mentioned in the introduction of this article, the primary function of an SSL certificate is to make a website more secure. Let us briefly explain how a security certificate works. To start with, you should know that you can recognise a website that uses a security certificate by its address bar, which starts with secure HTTPS instead of the traditional HTTP.

The data transferred between the server and the visitor’s browser is normally transmitted over port :80, but if an SSL certificate is used, the data is transmitted over port :443. As a consequence, the browser requests the so-called SSL public key from the server. When the server sends it, the browser checks whether the key has been issued by one of the globally recognised and accredited organisations, such as Sectigo, GeoTrust or Verisign. If this is the case, the browser validates the connection and sends the second part of the public key to the server. The latter uses this part of the key to encrypt all the data, which can only be read by the browser from which the second part of the key was issued.

The process of how an SSL certificate works may seem a bit complicated, so let’s keep it simple. All data transmitted between the server or website and the visitor or their browser is encrypted. Therefore, if the data is intercepted by a web attacker on the move, it is of no use to the attacker, as it cannot be decrypted. As a result, the security of the website is at a much higher level.

2. Visitors trust a secure website more

Internet users are increasingly aware of the importance of website security. This is particularly true for online shops, where a number of surveys have shown that visitors trust them more, which is reflected in a higher number of orders placed.

We mentioned that a secure website can be identified by a URL that starts with HTTPS. The most basic and inexpensive SSL certificate already provides this, while a security certificate with extended verification, which is also designed to identify the company, takes the credibility of the website to an even higher level.

So if you’re running out of ideas on how to increase sales in your online shop, using an SSL certificate is definitely another great option.

3. Websites with an SSL certificate installed rank higher in Google

More than 200 factors influence the ranking of search results on Google. Some are publicly known, while others are hidden by Google because it doesn’t want anyone to take advantage of them. One of the publicly known factors that has an increasing influence on search engine rankings is the SSL certificate.

Websites that are hosted on a secure HTTPS connection are “rewarded” with higher positions, which, if you think about it, makes perfect sense. It is also in Google’s interest to make the web more secure, so any action that tends to do so is motivated accordingly.

How to get an SSL certificate?

The whole process is easy. Because we understand the importance of protecting your data online, and we also know how important Google search rankings are to many people, you can find a variety of SSL certificates in our range.

The price of a basic SSL certificate, and in most cases the most suitable one, is € 19.90, and the installation itself is free if you buy it from us and also have a web hosting account with us.