Have you ever looked at a website URL address and wondered what the small padlock is? This icon indicates a security feature that some websites have and others do not. Websites with an SSL certificate are ranked higher in Google search than websites that do not. Additionally, browsers such as Chrome and Firefox sometimes refuse to display websites that don’t have these certificates. Or they display a scary “DANGER” warning instead of your homepage.

But if you are hosting with SiteInSight, you won’t have to worry about whether your site is secure or pay more for it.

In addition to the small padlock icon, you’ll also notice that the URL begins with HTTPS instead of simply HTTP. That “S” is a critical difference. A website using HTTPS (Hypertext Transport Protocol Secure) is making their site is secure and protects the confidentiality of their users’ data.

The way to add the padlock and HTTPS to your site is by purchasing an SSL Certificate that certifies the authenticity of your company or organization as the owner of the website. Even if your website does not have a shopping cart or anything that needs encryption, the SSL certificate serves as a form of legitimacy as to the ownership of the site. In many cases, the ownership of websites is hidden by various privacy services, and the average user cannot verify who owns any given website. An SSL certificate helps ensure the site belongs to a real company or person, and that they are who they say they are.

When you host with SiteInSight, there is no additional cost for SSL certificates. This can save you $50-$150 a year.  Plus, we work with your domain or hosting company to secure the certificate and install it for you, so you don’t need to worry about the technical work.

The purpose of SSL is to encrypt sensitive information being sent across the internet, so that only the intended recipient can view it, and if it is intercepted by a hacker, they can’t see the protected information. This information includes credit card numbers, usernames and passwords and other sensitive information that can be kept secure using SSL. This protects the users of your website from hackers and creates an overall sense of trust between the consumer and the company.

Please contact Alice Foeller at alice@siteinsight.com to discuss your needs in this area.