SSL Certificates: Advantages, Disadvantages, Types and Myths
SSL certificates ensure the protection of data transmission and their privacy on the Internet. The high efficiency of this solution has made it a standard all over the world, and now everyone has the opportunity to see the “green padlock” in the address bar of the browser when using, for example, online banking or online payment systems.
Even Google is unequivocal about improving search rankings, and hosting providers have long excelled each other in promoting certifications using SEO arguments.
Advantages and disadvantages of SSL certificates
Benefits of using SSL certificates:
- providing users with privacy, preventing the leakage of personal data;
- guarantee of authenticity and correctness of the uploaded data;
- a feeling of comfort when surfing and customer satisfaction with services at a high level;
- prestige and improvement of the company’s image;
- relatively low cost and ease of installation on any hosting;
- improved position in search results.
Disadvantages of SSL certificates:
- additional costs associated with the site, because quality certificates are paid;
- the possibility of a warning in incorrectly configured browsers (the problem may be caused, for example, by an incorrectly set date on the client’s computer);
- if you already have a site on http, then you need to move to https correctly so as not to lose your existing positions in search engines.
Types of SSL Certificates
Depending on the level of security, there are:
- DV (Domain Validation) certificates – guarantee the encryption of data transfer in the domain. Issuing a certificate includes checking the domain and the health of the page at that address. The process ends by clicking on the activation link sent to your email. Although this is the cheapest certificate option, it already guarantees a relatively high level of security;
- Сertificates of the OV class (verification of the organization) – in addition, the data of the applicant organization are verified. During the verification process, it is necessary to provide the registration documents of the company. The name of the company will be displayed in the details of the issued SSL certificate;
- Extended Grade Validation (EV) certificates – A more stringent verification of a company’s identity is carried out. Browsers always have a green bar with the company name in front of the WWW address, which can inspire even more trust and respect among Internet users. The strongest level of security is used by large companies and banks.
- the cost of having a certificate is very high – not true, now you can find promotions where the cost of an annual DV certificate does not exceed a couple of hundred rubles, even if the cost of EV certificates is not high, given that it is paid once a year and increases trust in the web -site;
- https for large companies and corporations is not true, small websites and stores are also under attack, and it is even worth taking advantage of improved positioning or the use of new technologies;
- working with certificates is complicated and time consuming – this is not true, DV certificates are received immediately after payment, and the entire installation process is very simple.
Considering that nowadays everyone values security and many companies do a lot in this direction, the topic of SSL certificates deserves attention. The influence of SSL certificates on the position of pages in the search engine, naturally, encourages you to take advantage of this opportunity on your site.
Read also my article “SSL certificates: what is it and how it works, features and types” (Ringostat blog: articles about marketing and analytics, 3.05.2019)
Internet marketing expert. Head of marketing agency MAVR.
Business degree “Master of Business Administration” (MBA).