Lack of security and safety

There are still a lot of websites frightening potential customers away and putting the site owners’ businesses at risk due to not having SSL security in place.

Your site isn’t secure if it’s an “http://” site. It’s now the expected standard requirement for websites to be “https://”.

An ‘SSL Certificate’ is needed to do this – which encrypts data sent between your site and its users, ensuring everything stays safe from cyber criminals (such as credit card details, personal addresses, and other sensitive information).

If your site doesn’t have this protection, the web browser will inform visitors that the site is ‘unsafe’ or ‘not private’. Obviously, this isn’t great for your perceived image or trustworthiness, or for your business – especially if personal data gets stolen.

Search engines prefer safe websites too. Google will not favour unsecure sites or list them well in search engine results.

Securing your website, and making the URL begin with HTTPS, is fairly straightforward and your website creator or host should be able to implement this for you. The pricing can vary.

It involves you or your website provider purchasing a unique SSL Certificate, and getting that installed/associated with your website. The certificate, like your domain name, requires renewing – normally annually.

As well as installing an SSL Certificate, be sure to take other protective measures (against data theft, hacking, malicious attacks…) by regularly backing up your website, and ensuring all your apps and plugins are always up to date.

Don’t leave it until it’s too late!