SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) enhances a web site's security by providing two important features: encryption and authentication.
- Encryption means that the data sent between your web site and users is unreadable by others. When a user accesses your site using an SSL connnection (URLs that begin with https://), the web server and web browser exchange encrypted information. Contrast this with unencrypted web transactions, which are transmitted as plaintext and subject to eavesdropping.
- Authentication means visitors can trust that you actually are who you claim to be. When users access your site using an SSL connection, they can be confident that they are seeing your site, and not an impostor's. Whereas encryption helps protect data, authentication helps prove your identity to others.
When users visit an SSL-enabled site, most web browsers display a lock icon (usually in the address bar). To enable SSL for your own web site, you must obtain and install a certificate.
Does my web site need SSL?
If your web site handles personal data or any kind of payment-related information, you need an SSL certificate. Additionally, if your web site contains login forms where users log in with a username and password, you should protect their information with SSL. This helps prevent malicious actors from eavesdropping and stealing login credentials.
How do I obtain an SSL certificate?
You can order an SSL certificate from HostingCollections Support. Contact your Account Manager for the same.
