When it comes to securing your website and protecting your users’ information, one of the most crucial components is an SSL certificate. But what exactly is an SSL certificate?
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is the standard security technology which establishes an encrypted link between a web server (where your website is hosted) and a browser (where your user is surfing). This link ensures that any data transferred between the server and the browser remains private and secure.
An SSL Certificate is a small data file hosted in a website’s origin server. It makes SSL/TLS encryption possible and it holds important information about the identity of the digital entity details.
When installed on a web server, an SSL certificate activates the green padlock and the “https” protocol, allowing secure connections from a web server to a browser. SSL certificates are used to secure data transfers, credit card transactions, logins and other personal information.
SSL certificates bind together:
- A domain name, server name or hostname.
- A company’s identity (i.e its name) and location.
For a website that uses an SSL certificate, when a secure session is initiated, the browser requests the web server to identify itself. The web server sends the browser its SSL certificate. The browser checks whether the SSL certificate is trusted — if it trusts the certificate, it sends a message to the server. The server responds to this message with a digitally signed acknowledgement to start an encrypted session.
Beyond the fundamental encryption, an SSL certificate also provides authentication, ensuring your users are sending their information to the correct server and not to a criminal’s server.
So, if you own a website, especially an eCommerce site, using an SSL certificate isn’t just a good idea, it’s a necessity.
In the context of WordPress, it becomes even more critical as Google has made it clear that they prioritize ranking those websites higher, which have SSL certificates installed.
