Why does my website need an SSL certificate?

An SSL certificate encrypts the connection between your site and its visitors and shows the padlock. Without it, browsers warn people that your site is not secure.

An SSL certificate is a small digital file on your website's server. It does two jobs. It proves to the browser that the site really belongs to your domain, and it scrambles the information that travels between your site and each visitor so no one in between can read it. When it is working, your site loads with https and a padlock or similar icon in the address bar.

Why it matters for your business

Trust. Browsers show a "Not secure" warning on pages without it. Many visitors leave when they see that.
Privacy. Anything a visitor types into a form, like a name, phone number or message, is protected on the way to you.
Search. Google prefers secure pages, and some browser features only work on secure sites.
Payments. Payment providers require a secure connection on pages that take orders.

Do I have to buy one?

For a website we host, no. We set up and renew the certificate for you as part of hosting. Certificates expire on a schedule and must be renewed, which happens automatically on our side.

The name you may also hear: TLS

SSL is the older name. The technology in use today is called TLS. People still say "SSL certificate" out of habit, and they mean the same thing.

We can do this for you. If your site shows "Not secure" or a certificate warning, open a request in your client portal with a screenshot and the page address. Our team will fix it.

Common problems

If only one page shows "Not secure," it may load an image or tool from an insecure address. Send us the page address.
If you see a full-page warning about a certificate, do not click through on a page that asks for information. Open a request.
If your site shows a warning right after a domain change, the new certificate may still be issuing. Wait an hour, then check again.
If you get an email saying your SSL certificate is about to expire and asking for payment, check with us first. It may be a scam.

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