Why Does Your Website needs SSL and HTTPS Now?

The evolution of Internet technology has brought about improved solutions and heightened protection for websites. Organizations like Google have been actively promoting web safety by advocating the use of HTTPS protocols and SSL certificates, ensuring data safety during transmission over browsers through secure encrypted channels. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) play diverse roles in catering to various departmental needs such as Sales, HR, Customer Services, and Webmaster/IT administration, driving business growth and productivity. For SME owners, juggling these different aspects simultaneously can be challenging. Many small businesses heavily rely on their website portals to attract customers and establish a strong market presence, even if they aren’t directly involved in retail marketing. Startups across various domains like restaurants, house cleaning services, accounting firms, tour operators, logistics providers, healthcare services, and more depend heavily on their websites for global service delivery, branding, and promotional activities. The Internet serves as a primary channel for people, geographically and statistically, to discover and engage with SMEs.

What is HTTPS?

HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Security, is the secure version of HTTP. Websites that obtain an SSL certificate are often differentiated by Google and Chrome, displaying them with the HTTPS prefix. On the other hand, sites that lack security are represented using the HTTP prefix.

What are the SSL Certificate Options?

Depending upon the requirement of the organization, these are the three levels of SSL certifications mentioned below. All these SSLs include the same level of encryption, regardless of their costs.

Domain Validated Certificates (DVSSLs): Domain Validated Certificates, or DV certificates, are verified against the domain registry. However, they do not disclose organizational information, making them unsuitable for commercial purposes. While DV certificates are inexpensive, they pose a high risk when used on public websites. It is recommended to reserve DV certificates for websites where security is not a primary concern.
Organizational Validated Certificates (OVSSLs): OVSSLs, or Organization Validated SSL certificates, are classified as trusted certificates. These certificates are issued to organizations that undergo stringent authentication by real agents against government-hosted business registry databases. OVSSLs are considered standard certificates as they contain legitimate business information necessary for validating any organization.
Extended Validation Certificates (EVSSLs): EVSSLs, or Extended Validation SSL certificates, encompass all the security features mentioned above while providing the highest level of security. They enhance customer confidence and deliver superior online transaction experiences. EVSSLs are no longer considered a luxury but a necessity for websites requiring the utmost security and rigorous vetting processes.

What is an SSL certificate?

SSL, or Secure Sockets Layer, establishes an encrypted connection between a web server and a browser. It has been available for over 20 years and serves to protect websites from threats while safeguarding data transferred over the network for website visitors. Hence, every enterprise with a website should acquire an SSL certificate. In the past, many organizations and end-users delayed adopting SSL due to pricing and implementation complexities. However, obtaining an SSL certificate has become much easier, with low costs and hassle-free deployment nowadays.

What is the need for an SSL Certificate?

Some of the important reasons to have SSL certificates are given as follows:

To Increase the Security of the Website
Protect all the Subdomains
Build Credibility and Trust for Customers with Extended Authentication
Improve Search Engine Rankings and for SEO Advantages
Protect the Business Ranking and Reputation
Maintain Lead Generation
Strongest Encryption to Secure Information
Safe and Secure mode of Payment