What exactly is what is an SSL Certificate? How do you get one for Your Store

If you're running an online shop, you need to have an SSL certificate to protect your customer's data. You can't avoid this. Not only does having one help ensure your customers' privacy, but it can also build trust. This can lead to more sales.

Fortunately, obtaining the SSL certificate isn't a large amount of time or financial resources. In this post we'll go over the meaning of an SSL certificate can be and the best way you can get one for your shop.

What is an SSL certificate?

SSL is a shorthand for Secure Sockets Layer, a security technology that protects data passed between servers and web browsers.

A SSL certificate acts as a type of digital certificate that authenticates websites and secures the data exchanged between the site's visitor and the host server. It's essential for any site which handles or store sensitive information such as information about credit cards, personal information, or log-in information.

Once a person is able to enter your site's URL in their browser, the browser requests to obtain the SSL certifiion from the server. The server then sends it to browser, that then validates the authenticity of the certificate. Once the certificate is verified it is then able to establish an encrypted connection with the server.

Although security of websites was always important, SSL certificates have become the top priority because Google made them a factor for ranking in search engines..

How to identify a site using an SSL certificate?

What can you tell the validity of an SSL certificate? There are several methods.

Look at the address bar

One of the most efficient ways to check if a site has an SSL certificate is by looking in the bar of address. If you see an icon of a padlock next to the URL, this signifies that the website is secure and comes with been issued an SSL certificate. The URL should also begin with HTTPS http:// rather than HTTP. ://.

For instance, when visiting WooCoommerce.com, a lock appears right next to the URL in the address bar

When you click the lock icon, you'll get the following dialog box, which tells you clearly that your browser connection is encrypted:

You can then click the arrow next to "Certificate is valid" (this will vary based upon your web browser) to read information about the certificate. This includes the name of the organization that issued the certificate and the date the certificate expires.

If a site does not have an SSL certificate it will display "http ://" and there will be no lock icon. This means that the connection between your browser and server is not encrypted, which could leave the sensitive data vulnerable to being intercepted.

Make sure to check the web browser

On some browsers, there's the message "Secure" or "Connection will be Secure." It's another indication that the site comes with an SSL certificate.

If it doesn't, you'll receive a security warning page preventing access to the site. If you're able to access the site the page, the majority of people don't. In Google Chrome, the error appears like this:

Review privacy policies and terms of usage

If you're putting sensitive data on a site it is important to make certain that the information is kept private. The best way to confirm this is to look for privacy policies or terms of use. They should say that the site does never share information about you with anyone else. If you can't find either of these documents, it's an indicator that something is wrong and you should avoid entering any information that could be considered sensitive in the form on the site.

Why is the importance of an SSL certificate so important?

A SSL certificate provides a number of advantages for website owners particularly those who operate websites with online shops. It often provides a trust message to customers who are looking for a site is secure and safe.

Let's explore a few of those reasons here:

1. It assists in securing visitor information. The most critical function that SSL certificates is that they help SSL certificate is the security of the data that is transferred between your site and your visitors' browsers. This is particularly important when you're collecting sensitive data including credit card information or personal data.
2. It builds confidence. If visitors can see that your website is secure with the SSL certification, this provides confidence when deciding whether or not they should enter details for making payments.
3. It is a way to improve search rankings. Even if a site does not process or store sensitive information, it's recommended to have an SSL certificate. Google makes use of HTTPS as the ranking signal. This means that sites with SSL certificates are more likely to appear better in the search results.

What kind of SSL certificate are you looking for?

After we've clarified what is an SSL certificate does and the reason it is necessary, let's talk about the different certificate types and the different levels of validation available.

1. Domain-validated (DV). This is the most commonly used and inexpensive type of certification. You only need to establish ownership of the domain name to validate the authenticity of your name.
2. Organization-validated (OV). This requires you to provide additional information about your organization which makes it costlier and more trustworthy than a DV certificate.
3. Extended-validated (EV). This is the most expensive and reliable kind of certification. It demands the most amount of documents and data.
4. Unified communications (UCC). It is a kind of multi-domain certificate that can secure multiple URLs at a time.
5. wildcard certificate. You can use them to protect an unlimitable number of subdomains in the same domain.

How do I get an SSL certificate?

There are a few different methods to obtain the SSL certification for your website. Two of these options will be discussed thoroughly:

1. Through your hosting provider

A lot of hosting companies include SSL certificates as part of their packages at no additional cost. The process of adding an SSL certificate to your website is different according to your hosting company. Let's take a look at an example using Bluehost.

1. Log in to your Bluehost account and click My Sites to the left on the screen.
2. Search for your website, then select on the red Manage Websitebutton.
3. Click on the tab labeled "Security," and find the Security Certificate section.
4. Switch the Free SSL switch on.

It is then necessary to configure HTTPS for your website and ensure that all of your URLs are protected. This is how to do this:

1. Visit Settingsin the Settings section of your WordPress dashboard. Make sure you update your WordPress Address and Site Address to begin with https:// instead of http. ://. Make sure to click Save changes.
2. Log off from WordPress Then log back in. This could be done in a way.
3. Next, you'll need redirect URLs from HTTPS. You can add the following code to your . htaccess file through the cpanel file manager or via FTP.

 RewriteEngine On RewriteCondHTTPS off RewriteRule(. *)$ https://%HTTP_HOST%REQUEST_URI [L,R=301]   RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %HTTPS off RewriteRule ^(. *)$ https://%HTTP_HOST%REQUEST_URI [L,R=301] 

1. Review your URLs and be sure they show HTTPS instead of HTTP. If you notice any mixed content errors then proceed to the next procedure.
2. Utilize the Better Search Replace plugin to locate every instance of your old URL, and then replace them with the current HTTPS version.

You're now ready to start!

If your hosting provider doesn't offer free SSL certificatesfor customers, they may nevertheless be able to buy one from their website. Prices and procedures will vary on your host.

2. With a free Let's Encrypt SSL certificate

Let's Encrypt is a nonprofit company that offers gratis SSL certificates. The mission of their organization is comparable to the mission of WordPress which is to make a more open web.

There are several plugins available to help you activate an SSL certificate. Very Simple SSL, for example, comes with a built-in Let's Encrypt wizard that will generate a certificate for your site within a matter of a few steps. It handles everything else, too, automatically updating the URLs for your website to HTTPS.

Install an SSL certificate to your online store

If you've learned the basics of SSL certificates and ways to get one for your online store You should start taking immediately action! Talk to your host or explore the free options available and secure your data, customers' information and confidence today.