Secure browsing (also known as HTTPS) is now the industry standard, due to global changes being made by search engines, to web browsers, and by major platforms. Servers and web hosting used must use an SSL certificate, which enables secure browsing to your users/visitors.
Our Standard SSL certificates provide:
- Proof of domain name ownership,
- Shows site is who it claims to be,
- Improves search results (eg Google ranking),
- Marked as secure by all web browsers,
- Encryption of all data between your site and the end user.
Our Advanced SSL certificates also provide:
- Legal validation of the organisation,
- Organisation name in green address bar.
Below are key ways in which sites are affected without SSL certificates:
Search results
Google actively downvotes sites in their search results which do not offer secure browsing. See here for more information: https://webmasters.googleblog.com/2014/08/https-as-ranking-signal.html
Web browsers
Latest versions of web browsers now show sites without secure browsing as “Not secure”:
https://www.blog.google/products/chrome/milestone-chrome-security-marking-http-not-secure/
Social media
Facebook has announced that from October, all integrations/uses of its platform will require secure browsing. Other social media platforms are sure to follow. See here for more information:
https://developers.facebook.com/blog/post/2018/06/08/enforce-https-facebook-login/
If your site is temporary or a simple holding page, an SSL certificate may not be required. Otherwise we recommend all active businesses and organisations have an SSL certificate in place. Please contact us for assistance obtaining and implementing SSL certificates.