What is a SSL Certificate?
What is the purpose of an SSL certificate?
It stands for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and it’s special code on your web server that acts like a bodyguard for your server talking to other servers. Which means that when someone visits your server (aka your website) from their server (using a browser - i.e. Edge, Chrome, Firefox), their browser is asking your server for the details so they can load the website.
That communication, that ask to your server, is encrypted. It’s like a super secret tunnel that the two ends talk thru.
Visually the browser adds the lock symbol to your domain name in the browser and it adds an s to “http://”, making it “https://” for “secure.” Most users have come to know to look for either of those two, but especially the lock symbol, when accessing a website.
How does a SSL Certificate work? What is an SSL certificate with an example?
When someone visits a website with a SSL Certificate, that website sends that person’s browser a special string of numbers and characters called a “key.”
Their browser verifies that “yep, that looks legit” and tells the server “OK - send over the website”. That transaction is called a “handshake.” It’s how the browser decides if the site is safe. They check the key, if the key fits the lock, then it’s OK to proceed.
From here, the browser and the server talk in a sort of secret tunnel that keeps out anyone else from spying on what they’re saying. That transmission of data from one spot to another is where most attacks happen, most data leaks, so if you’re talking in a tunnel, nothing else can get in, and it’s relatively safe.
What happens if you don’t have a SSL certificate?
One, they’re usually free anymore so not having one is kind of pointless. The only time you really should consider paying for one is if you’re doing credit card transactions or collecting super sensitive information.
Two, Google LOVES SSL certificates because it provides their users (the people who search using Google) a safer experience, so of course all things being equal, Google will choose the site with the SSL certificate.
And this is the most important part, Google will throw up a wall before the user ever goes to your site and say, HEY, are you sure you want to visit this website? It’s not secure! - Guess how many people back out of that scenario. They could still proceed to your site after dancing around that wall, but no one does.
Three, and of course this is why Google throws up that wall, your site is at a lot higher risk of being attacked by hackers. Even the free SSL cert prevents most attacks, and again, it’s usually free or dirt cheap, so why wouldn’t you?
How do I get an SSL certificate?
You buy your SSL certificate from your hosting company or your domain name registrar. It’s usually a simpler process to buy it from your hosting company though because that’s where it has to get installed.
So in short, do what you think is best for your business, but there isn't a whole lot of difference between the two. But either way, get one on your site because it's an instant leg up in the SEO game.
Table of Contents
00:00 - What is an SSL Certificate?
01:08 - How does an SSL Certificate Work?
02:25 - What happens if you don't have an SSL Certificate?
04:04 - How do I get an SSL Certificate?
04:28 - Different types of SSL Certificates
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