SSL Certificate is a great technology that creates a secured data communication between the user (Browser) and server. It encrypts the information and protects the data communication between intended recipients (User and Server)
Running a website without this security layer is highly risky. If you are running a WordPress or any other website you should have installed and activated SSL (Secure Sockets Layer).
Before I discuss the benefits of an SSL certificate, Let’s understand the brief of HTTP and HTTPS with the following images.
HTTP:
In the case of HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol), the transmission of the information/data between the user (Browser) and the server is not secured. Here the data communication is done without any SSL layer. It is highly risky and confidential data may be hacked.
HTTPS:
In this case HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure), there is a requirement for SSL Certificate which encrypts the data transmitted between the user (Browser) and the server.
Benefits of SSL Certificate
1- Encrypt Data
It is a very important technology to protect confidential information between browsers and servers. The main function of the SSL certificate is to encrypt the information which communicates between browser and server.
Basically, it creates a security layer. Apart from the intended recipient, no one else can read the confidential information.
2- Payment Card Industry (PCI) Compliance
SSL certificate is the standard requirement by Payment Card Industry. If you accept any payment on your website then it is standard that you have installed and activated SSL on your site.
Without it, you can not accept online payment from any user. If you have such kind of website where you receive the payment online then make sure you have SSL on your site.
3- Trust
It also builds the trust of your client. When clients see a locked padlock in the browser, they become assured that the site is secure. It creates a trust factor in the visitor’s mind.
Suppose you want to purchase something online and you opened two websites. One is insecure and doesn’t have an SSL certificate, however, the second website has it. Which website would you like to purchase your product from?
Insecure Website? or
Secure Website?
Of course, your answer will be the Secured Website. Trust and data security are very important factors for users.
4- Search Engine Ranking
Have you seen a flag of “Not Secure” when you opened any insecure website on the Google Chrome browser? This is a warning message from the browser that you have opened a site that is not secure.
Google gives preference for ranking to those websites which are HTTPS enabled. SSL certificate is now a very important SEO factor and you must have enabled HTTPS on your site.
How to Install SSL certificate?
Installation of SSL certificates is almost similar for most of the hosting service providers. But the control panel and process may be slightly different for different hosting providers. Here I am taking two examples to show you that how to install SSL. The First Example of Bluehost and the Second is SiteGround.
Let’s First discuss Bluehost.
Bluehost:
Normally, Bluehost provides a free SSL certificate. In most cases, Bluehost will automatically install and activate the SSL. But in some cases, maybe it is not done. If in your case this is not installed and activated automatically then you can do it manually.
To install and activate an SSL Certificate you can follow these steps.
- First of all login to your Bluehost control panel and click on My Sites on the left side.
- Now select the site for which you want to install and activate SSL.
- After that, you click on Manage Button and open the Security tab. Now you see the option of SSL certificate. Now just you need to ON the button.
- After doing this process, it may take few hours to install and activate.
Kindly do all other settings if required in your case.
If you want to explore Bluehost then you may go through the following blog post
Bluehost Review: One of the Best Hosting Providers
SiteGround:
Siteground provides a free SSL Certificate to its clients. To install and activate your site you can follow these steps.
- First of all login to your Siteground control panel.
- Click on the Site Tool of the site for which you want to install and activate SSL.
- Now click on security and you will see the option of SSL manager.
- Click on the SSL manager and select the domain name.
- Now select the type of certificate which you want to install and activate. Normally, Let’s Encrypt and Let’s Encrypt wildcard are free but Premium is paid.
- After the selection of the certificate, click on Get.
Kindly do all other settings if required in your case and check that it is properly installed and activated on your WordPress Site.
Conclusion
If you are a blogger and don’t want to compromise your site’s ranking then be sure that you have an SSL certificate installed on it. It is not important only for ranking purposes but it is a matter of security of information.
Security of visitor’s data should always be the first priority. And most of the good hosting companies provide free SSL to their clients.
