What is SSL?
SSL is short for “secure socket layer” – without going into extreme details, it is a security technology which allows information to be transferred safely between two locations, such as two different websites, or between your browser and a website.
It does this by taking the data that is being sent, and jumbling it up into what we could consider nonsense (this is called “encryption”).
Imagine it like a bodyguard for information such as credit card numbers, passwords, etc!
Why do I need it?
- Google Likes SSL. they use it as a tie breaker between sites to help them rank you in the search engine
- To protect users’ personal information: especially important for PCI compliance and GDPR compliance
- Prevents Scary Messages in Web Browsers: these can drive away visitors!
Other Resources
Many hosting companies are now offering FREE SSL certificates. I like Siteground, because their customer service is fast and efficient, and it’s easy to install with just a few clicks.
View a List Other Hosts That support free SSL via Let’s Encrypt
