What is SSL and Why is it Important for E-commerce Websites?

SSL Security Certificates

Ecommerce has gained popularity in recent times over the traditional form of shopping. This is because it provides convenience of shopping. However, ecommerce is any kind of business or any business deal that involves transferring of data via internet and makes investments and imbursement feature of business transactions possible. It includes a wide range of business that deals in both products and services online, irrespective of distance and time, which is otherwise a big hindrance. Owing to this, there are several ecommerce websites available on the internet, offering their services. However, there are certain aspects that are important for any ecommerce store to run successfully.

Online transactions have become quite risky due to various internet frauds that take place while carrying out online transactions using debit and credit cards. To insulate these transactions and to make ecommerce work in a better way, SSL certificate or Security Socket Layer is used.

What is SSL?

SSL protects confidential data of millions of people on the internet every day. It is a security protocol, which is developed to secure confidential data that is transmitted on the internet. It works with the help of a secret key that is transmitted on the SSL connection. Ecommerce websites carry out transactions using SSL certificate are secured and reliable than those that do not have one. Usually, websites that requires an SSL connection begins with https:// in place of http://.

Benefits of SSL certificates for an ecommerce website

SSL certificate is a security certificate that protects sensitive data like credit card numbers and other such data from reaching any unauthorized party and prevents misusing personal information. It benefits both the vendor as well as customer and having SSL certificates is important for an ecommerce website as it provides security and builds trust of the customer.

The security certificate seals helps in building the trust of customers as their data cannot be tampered and remains secured. This as well escalates the competitive advantage as the ecommerce website not only becomes more trustworthy, but also emerges as more legitimate. This security certificate adds value to the website as it provides protection to the data that is being transmitted online. There are different types of SSL certificates provided by different service providers, but the quality depends on the encryption bits, which varies from 48 bits to 128 bits. However, 128 bits encryption is more trusted as it cannot be hacked, thus offering more security. The availability of different types of SSL certificates, which are intended for different type of business, depending on its size, has increased the security while carrying out online transactions. The new feature that has been added to the security certificate is colour coding of web browsers, which denotes secure connections. This feature has made online transactions even more secured and safe.

Is self signed security certificate enough for your business website?

Website Security

In the 21st century, many internet based businesses go great lengths so as to connect with their target customers, which inevitably has become the most important step towards building a profitable online enterprise. Interestingly, some 75 per cent of the online shoppers look for a security certificate before making any online purchase and ensuring that the concerned website is protected by a verified and popular Secure Sockets Layer, or SSL certificate. Further, these kinds of security certificates are mostly provided by Comodo, Verisign or one of the Symantec brands. Without these reliable brands underlining reliability of a website, online customers usually click away and look for some other websites. A digital certificate like SSL is nothing but an electronic credit card, which confirms credentials or identity of a website that is engaged in online business and other types of transactions over the World Wide Web.

Introduction to a security certificate?

A security certificate for a website is issued by the Certification Authority (CA) and it comprises name, expiration dates, serial number and the copy of owner's public key, which is usually needed for encryption of data, messages and digital signatures. Further, an SSL certificate also includes digital signature of the certificate issuing CA, so as to enable a recipient to verify its authenticity. A digital certificate like SSL can also be recorded in online registries, so that any authenticating consumer can check public keys for verification.

Self signed vs third party signed security certificate 

Some IT professionals hold the opinion that net costs for a website authentication can be easily cut by eliminating third party SSL certification authorities from the budget equation. Individuals who believe that spending money on an SSL certificate for an online ecommerce website business or a company homepage is nothing but unnecessary, are actually walking on a tight rope. A self signed security certificate for an online business website is not a great alternative for paid SSL certification, issued by Comodo, Verisign or Symantec. This can be easily found out doing some basic market research and budgetary estimates.

Experts believe that the net cost of owning an SSL security certificate is much more than the price of the certificate. One has to consider expenses on security hardware, data centre storage space and management software, amid others, which can easily add up a big figure for the setting up of a secure and self signing architecture. Further, a Do It Yourself (DIY) approach to SSL certificate can put an entire organisation at grave risk in a number of ways, from both technical and business perspectives. Almost all major external and internal facing online marketing oriented business websites require a strong SSL protection verified by reputed third party certification provider. A digital certificate offers the most cost effective option for authenticating the identity of any online ecommerce web portal, besides being highly recommended as well.