Business owners, what is SSL?
Chances are, you have. I’m talking about Secure Sockets Layer, the most ubiquitous security protocol online. You know the green padlock icon that shows in the address bar of your chosen browser when visiting certain sites? This protects the user’s sensitive information while they log in or make a purchase online. The existence of SSL certificates on retail or other relevant sites may seem like just another automatic process but it’s most certainly not. SSL is a nearly mandatory option that’s of course not free. For those who sell online or collect sensitive information about their clients or customers via their website, SSL is a necessity regardless of cost.
Did you know that starting this year, Google will be labeling any website without SSL as “not secure?”
If you’re a business owner in 2017 that sells online or prompts their clients to create and maintain account/password use, let’s hope you’re already utilizing SSL. If so, perhaps then it’s time to re-evaluate your SSL needs for a solution that’s cheaper than what you’re paying now. If not, there may be more surprises in store for you.
What’s so great about SSL? Sure, the world tells me I need it, but should I listen? We know the world tells us a lot about what we should and shouldn’t be doing with eCommerce these days. With so many places to turn, how are you to make sense of it all? Luckily, if you do some searching elsewhere, you’ll find everyone saying the exact same thing about SSL certification. If you want to compete in our current economic climate, SSL in 2017 is absolutely one of the many ways you’ll need to go.
SSL works by encryption so that when users type in their information to your site, extra characters and symbols are added to shield the true nature of what they input. The intended recipient (you) receives the original message so hackers are left out in the cold, vast space of the internet with only the embers of morality to keep them warm. Add to this the promise of preying on another website’s unsuspecting victims the next day, and you’ve got an obvious trend/problem but also an obvious solution.
We all cringe when we get those emails from companies we patronize, telling us that our sensitive information has been accidentally lost, shared or stolen. As a business owner, this is likely a top spot on your “Please, don’t let this happen to me” list. The harsh truth is that usually those emails come to us from companies we trust, who are already doing the right thing by using SSL certification to begin with. If these breaches still happen with encryption, you may be wondering why you should even bother. Obviously, this is hypothetical black-and-white thinking but understandable nonetheless. However, in addition to business owners’ commitment to safety, security, and equality, there needs to be a constant evolution to fit into our ever-changing environment as well. This includes protection that may seem marginal to the untrained eye. Do recall however, consumers’ eyes are getting more discerning by the season.
Did you know that starting this year, Google will be labeling any website without SSL as “not secure?” This will no doubt be visible to consumers. Do you really want another reason for John or Jane Doe to scroll past your marketplace in lieu of your competitor’s? Internet traffic can be hard enough to pin down without a college degree, knowledgeable friend, or the constant changes in technical security and top companies constantly shifting the trends for everyone else. Don’t let a three-letter acronym be the slow decline of your leads and sales. Be sure to give EYTech a call or email to see about protecting your livelihood today. We love questions!
