When visitors open your website, their browser shows either a padlock or a “Not secure” warning. That small detail affects trust, search rankings and even whether customers complete a form. The difference is an SSL certificate.
What SSL does
SSL (more accurately TLS) encrypts the connection between your visitor’s browser and your website. Anything they type, such as names, phone numbers, passwords or payment details, cannot be read by anyone in between. Your web address changes from http:// to https://.
Why it matters for your business
- Trust: modern browsers label sites without SSL as “Not secure”, which puts visitors off immediately.
- Search visibility: Google treats HTTPS as a ranking signal.
- Forms and payments: contact forms, logins and checkouts should never run without encryption.
- Modern features: many browser features and integrations only work on HTTPS.
Which type should you choose?
- Domain Validated (DV): quick to issue and fine for most business websites and blogs.
- Organisation Validated (OV): verifies your company details, adding credibility for corporate sites.
- Extended Validation (EV): the strictest checks, often chosen by finance and e-commerce businesses.
- Wildcard: covers all subdomains, such as shop.yoursite.com and portal.yoursite.com.
After installing SSL
Make sure every page redirects to HTTPS, update internal links, and set a reminder before the certificate expires. An expired certificate shows visitors an alarming warning page.
Explore our SSL certificates or ask us to install one for you.