With the onset of GDPR we know that privacy policies are getting more stringent. With that in mind, this year Google will start upgrading the rankings of sites with SSL’s, and marking down websites which do not have an SSL certificate.
What is an SSL? I hear you ask.
You know that tiny little padlock symbol in your browser bar… that means the site you are on is under an SSL. In terms of what that really means for the end users, it simply means any data submitted to the site is safely secured by encryption link between the web server and the browser.
Using a site which is not under an SSL means any data you provide is at risk of being stolen or edited as it transfer’s from the front end of the site to the site’s servers. The SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) encrypts the transmission of data, making it impossible to do this.
There may have been a time where only e-commerce websites would need an SSL to ensure the safety of their users banking details. But this is no longer the case. Any website that holds secure data such as name, email address, location, age and or phone number will require an SSL (a standard newsletter sign up). This also includes any site with a back office log in or any kind of CMS.
Currently, any site without an SSL is un-marked, but soon Google will begin to give users clear warnings about using sites that are not secure. These warnings could be red browser search bars, or red ‘Not Secure’ text next to your URL. This will inevitably preventive potential clients using your site and could harm your brand.
What to do now?
We think doing nothing is not an option. The answer is simple: buy and install an SSL certificate to protect your website and your brand from nasty surprises. Start the process here: (www.4fx.co.uk) or email getintouch@4fx.co.uk.
