SSL certificate
The reason your site shows https:// in the address bar, and why browsers warn people about sites without it.
What does SSL certificate mean?
A small digital file on your web server that proves your site is really yours and lets browsers load it over a private, encrypted HTTPS connection instead of plain HTTP.
Also called: TLS certificate, HTTPS certificate
What an SSL certificate does
An SSL certificate does two jobs. It encrypts the connection between a visitor's browser and your website, so anything they type into a contact form cannot be read along the way. And it proves the site belongs to your domain, so a visitor is not quietly sent to an impostor.
SSL is the older name. The technology in use today is called TLS, but almost everyone still says SSL certificate. When a site has a valid certificate, its address starts with https:// and the browser loads it without a warning.
Why it matters for a small business
Modern browsers label sites that load over plain HTTP as not secure, and some show a full warning page before letting a visitor continue. For a customer deciding whether to trust you with their name, address, and the details of a job, that warning is often enough to make them go back to the search results.
- Make sure every version of your address, with and without www, redirects to the https:// version.
- Check that the certificate renews automatically. An expired certificate triggers the same warnings as having none.
- Use HTTPS on every page, not only the contact form.
Who looks after it
Certificates expire and must be renewed. Many hosts now issue and renew them automatically, often using free certificates from Let's Encrypt, a nonprofit certificate authority. If your host does not, renewing it becomes a recurring job on your list. With Artol, SSL is part of hosting, and we keep it renewed.
An example
A salon owner notices that their booking page shows a not secure label in the browser. Their hosting plan never set up a certificate. Once a certificate is installed and the site redirects every page to https://, the label disappears and the browser shows the site as a normal, secure page.
Questions we get asked
How do I check whether my site has a valid certificate?
Visit your site and look at the address bar. If the address starts with https:// and the browser shows no warning, the certificate is working. Our free website grader also checks whether your site loads over HTTPS.
Do I need to pay for an SSL certificate?
Usually not. Free certificates are trusted by every major browser and are fine for a typical small business site. What matters more is that someone keeps the certificate renewed.
