What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL certificate lets your website use HTTPS, which encrypts data between your site and visitors and shows the padlock in the browser.
An SSL certificate is a small data file that proves your website is really yours and turns on encryption. With it, your site loads over HTTPS and browsers show a padlock or similar sign. The modern technology is called TLS, but most people still say SSL. Certificates are issued by trusted companies called certificate authorities and expire, so they must renew. Many hosts provide and renew them automatically.
Why it matters for your business: Without a valid certificate, browsers show a "not secure" warning that scares visitors away, and forms are not protected.
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