Cyber security breaches caused by phishing emails and weak passwords on websites cause almost one-third of companies to lose revenue. That’s before accounting for the additional expenses of recovering from the attack, as well as any long-term damage the attack may inflict.
Security concerns can be handled through a proactive approach; successful attacks on eCommerce businesses are highly damaging. 75% of consumers will switch providers after just one bad experience. Online retailers can also protect their customers and their privacy while shopping online.
It has now become more important than ever to use SSL certificates to boost the security of your websites. Let us see how SSL Certificates can eliminate cybersecurity threats.
What is SSL?
A Secure Socket Layer (SSL) certificate encrypts the connection between the website host and the user, allowing data to be securely exchanged. SSL certificates replace the prefix “HTTP” on websites with”HTTPS.”
SSL certificates signify trustworthiness, a commitment to online users’ secure and confidential experience. SSL certificates require three levels of validation, requiring different safety checks.
While SSL certificates act as a badge of honor, they are more than that. Web hosting companies and users of SSL benefit from SSL’s ability to protect data exchanged across the Internet. E-commerce customers and new business prospects can enter payment information or fill out contact forms without fear of data theft at the time of transmission over the network.
Why is SSL Certificate Important for Eliminating Threats
SSL Certificates are crucial in insuring data protection from cybercriminals. Every bit of data sent/received via an SSL network is encrypted so that even if the hacker is able to get the data he won’t be able to make sense out of it.
The data is decrypted using the proper key at the receiving end only.
Data Security
SSL network protects data communications between a server and a client. It is very important to protect your data and web application from the army of hackers and skimmers when dealing with sensitive data such as IDs, passwords, credit card numbers, etc.
A high level of encryption technology is incorporated to encrypt the data transferred over SSL networks that is so complex that it cannot be broken by the hacker to decrypt the data.
Please note that without the SSL certificates, all the data being transferred from a computer to a server is open and can be read by an intruder. If you are sending sensitive information like credit card details, bank account details, social security number, passwords, messages, etc. over a non-SSL network then you are literally serving these details to a hacker on plate because this is exactly what they are looking for.
Authentication
An SSL certificate’s second primary function is to authenticate a website. Online safety necessitates a focus on the importance of identity verification. There is no arguing that the internet is becoming more and more deceitful. It’s at this point that the SSL certificate comes in.
When you want to install an SSL certificate, an independent third party called a Certificate Authority (CA) sets up a validation process for you (CA). You and your organization’s identity are verified by the CA, depending on what type of certificate you have. The trust indicators that appear on your website are there because you have proven your identity. These people are identifiable when they’re on the other end of the phone line.
This is a list of Twitter accounts that have been verified. In this case, the only difference is that you must authenticate your identity for the website rather than for your Twitter profile. That way, you can be sure that no one is impersonating you by creating a fake website that looks like yours. Phishing is the technical term for this. As a result, SSL helps users find your entire website, protects them from fraud, and improves your reputation.
Compliance
Various governments and data regulation authorities like PCI has made it mandatory to have SSL certificates encrypted with protocols TLS 1.2 or beyond on your website if you accept online payments.
If you have an e-commerce website or accept payments like donations, etc then it is a must to have SSL installed on your website with a valid SSL certificate.
Prevention of cyber attacks
I have mentioned several times that an SSL certificate prevents cyber attacks. But what kind of attacks?
Some of these attacks include eavesdropping, impersonation, data theft, identity theft and Man-in-the-middle attacks. Everyday we hear about thousands of credit card details getting leaked or stolen. The main reason behind this disaster is transmitting sensive data over an unprotected network.
If the internet users use HTTPS websites only while transmitting sensitive data then they can protect themselves from these cyberattacks.
Importance of an SSL certificate
Search engines and users place a high value on establishing and maintaining relationships based on trust. It’s not sufficient to simply meet the minimum requirements to ensure website security. An organization’s commitment to cyber security and user safety should implement SSL certificates.
Businesses can benefit from their brand reputation, marketing, and trust once they succeed. As part of a broader strategy to boost website trust, SSL certificates should play a central role.
Having an SSL certificate is crucial
As we’ve already mentioned, SSL certificates are now the norm in online security. In contrast, websites that require logins or forms must have it because they deal with sensitive information like usernames and passwords. E-commerce websites require SSL to comply with the Payment Card Industry (PCI) standards and protect customer data; e-commerce websites require SSL.
The following examples demonstrate how important it is to have an SSL certificate.
- It ensures that all data exchanged between servers is safe and secure.
- It promotes digital trust and demonstrates your concern for your site visitors’ privacy.
- As far as search engine optimization is concerned, HTTPS websites may rise in the rankings.
SSL Certificates are found to instantly boost an e-commerce website’s conversion rate by up to 25%. This further underlines how important it is for an SSL certificate to have one. The area of online security still needs to be addressed in several ways, including teaching web administrators about SSL certificates and dealing with spammers in the cyber realm since only 64 percent of websites are currently protected.
So what are you waiting for? Choose the reputed SSL Service providers like Entrust from Indusface and add an extra layer for security for your business against cybersecurity threats.
