What is an SSL certificate?

A Secure Sockets Layer – or SSL – certificate is a web security protocol and essential for protecting your site visitors’ sensitive data against fraud and identity theft. SSLs guard data by providing encryption (scrambling of data to prevent tampering during transmission) and validation (verification of the business behind the website). SSL certificates come in different levels of security, depending on the level of protection and security features you need. Often, these features are obvious – Site Seals, HTTPS, and the “green bar” are all visual indicators of a protected site – other times, the security is behind-the-scenes. No matter what level you choose, SSL protection reassures visitors that your site is safe, leading to greater customer trust and increased reliability for your business or brand.