Introduction
It’s 2019, and if your web site isn’t secure, I won’t be visiting. And you can definitely count me out if I see a security warning when I stop by. If your site falls into this category, it’s time to step up and make your web site secure. If you’re not sure how to do this, we can guide you.
What Your Customers See
If you haven’t properly implemented HTTPS using SSL (Secure Socket Layer signed by a digital certificate), then your customers may see warnings similar to these in their browser. What kind of impression are you giving?
A Secure Web Site Does Matter
There are nearly two cyberattacks per minute and almost half of these target small business web sites. Nearly 90% of customers will leave a site if it isn’t secure. Only 54% of sites are secured, and that’s puzzling since Google has been advocating for SSL since 2017.
Loss of Traffic
If your web site isn’t under SSL, then all major browsers will show a warning designed to steer potential visitors away from your site. What will that loss of traffic mean to your business?
Loss of Search Engine Ranking
Google’s algorithm favors HTTPS sites. If your site isn’t secure, a similar secure site will outrank you.
How To Implement a Secure Web Site
First of all, if you are one of Veracity Technologies’ customers, then you can rest assured that your site and the server upon which it resides has been secured. We use SSL Labs to check our server configuration and our certificates. All of our sites are rated “A” or higher.
If you are using another hosting provider, then contact their technical support for assistance in purchasing and installing an SSL Certificate. Some hosting providers may offer free SSL certificates from Let’s Encrypt or their internal system.
One word of caution, however, if your provider issues their own SSL certificates, then make sure that the certificate matches your domain name or this will generate a browser warning. If that happens, contact your hosting provider’s technical support for assistance.
Putting It All Together
All web sites need to be using a secure protocol (HTTPS) backed by a secure certificate (SSL certificate). Using HTTPS will boost your current and prospective customers’ confidence. Taking this action is easier and less expensive than you think.
Secure Your Web Site with SSL
Some web hosting companies offer a free SSL certificate as part of their packages. Some of these include Bluehost and Namecheap.
If your web hosting partner doesn’t provide you with a free SSL certificate, then you may need to purchase and install your own certificate. We recommend Namecheap. That’s where we purchase our SSL certificates for our sites and for our clients.
They have a great support system and online guides to walk you through the process step-by-step. We highly recommend Namecheap!
In closing, now is the time to secure your website. If you need assistance, please feel free to reach out and ask us a question on our Facebook Page.
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