SSL Certificates

"HTTPS Everywhere" – Making the Internet More Secure

Browser makers are driving toward a more secure Internet that leverages HTTPS as widely as possible. You will notice changes in common browsers continuing to drive the message of "HTTPS Everywhere" to users as they browse the Internet. For example, Google will update their Chrome browsers in October. The browser will note web pages that use HTTP to submit information as "Not Secure,"" making users more obviously aware when they are sending information across an unencrypted connection.

Ranking Gets Real

HTTPS everywhere or “Always-On” SSL/HTTPS, has been pushed as a security best practice for years. Many large companies have already implemented it, including Microsoft, Google, Facebook, and Twitter.

Google believes that enabling Always-On HTTPS is critical to online security and data privacy. Because of this, they are rewarding websites that use 2048-bit SSL encryption with an extra boost in search engine rankings.

For now, using SSL is considered to be a lightweight ranking signal with respect to Google’s organic search algorithm. However, Google has said they will increase its influence on rankings once webmasters have had enough time to migrate their sites to HTTPS.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) Certificates

SSL Certificates are small data files that digitally bind a cryptographic key to an organization’s details. When installed on a web server, it activates the padlock and the https protocol and allows secure connections from a web server to a browser. Typically, SSL is used to secure credit card transactions, data transfer and logins, and more recently is becoming the norm when securing browsing of social media sites.

An organization needs to install the SSL Certificate onto its web server to initiate a secure session with browsers. Once a secure connection is established, all web traffic between the web server and the web browser will be secure.

When a certificate is successfully installed on your server, the application protocol (also known as HTTP) will change to HTTPS, where the 'S' stands for 'secure'. Depending on the type of certificate you purchase and what browser you are surfing the internet on, a browser will show a padlock or green bar in the browser when you visit a website that has an SSL Certificate installed.

Pricing

SSL Certificates are billed in two year increments and the cost is $195. There is a one-time set up fee of $350 to process the SSL order and install it on your website.

SSL Certificate Set-up for Single Page Websites: Includes the order and set up of the certificate with domain host, website installation and code updates and records set up.

SSL Certificate Set-up for Multi-Page Websites: Includes the order and set up of the certificate with domain host, website installation and code updates on all pages, records set up