When you visit a website and see a little padlock icon in the address bar, that’s a sign the site is using an SSL certificate. It may seem like a small detail, but it plays a big role in protecting your website and your visitors.
10 years ago an SSL certificate might have been an optional add on, or used on websites that collected sensitive information like payment details. That began to change back in 2016 when Google announced they will begin displaying the security of the connection in the address bar of Chrome. In 2017, Google started enforcing the presence of a valid SSL certificate as a ranking factor in their search engine results. This created a situation where not having an SSL certificate, which was common in the early 2010s and earlier, was not only bad for privacy but also bad for ranking your website in Google. It’s for these reasons that every website we host at Falcon Digital includes an SSL certificate.
What Is an SSL Certificate?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts the connection between your website and a visitor’s browser. This encryption keeps all data transferred—like contact forms, payment details, and login information—safe from prying eyes.
When a website has a valid SSL certificate:
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The URL begins with https:// (instead of just http://)
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A padlock icon appears in the browser address bar
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Data sent between the visitor and the website is encrypted
How Does SSL Work?
Here’s a simplified breakdown:
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Visitor connects to your site
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Your site sends its SSL certificate to the browser
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The browser verifies that the certificate is valid and issued by a trusted authority
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A secure connection is established (via HTTPS)
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Any data exchanged is encrypted and protected from interception
Even if someone managed to intercept the data, it would be unreadable without the encryption key.
Why SSL Is So Important
🔒 1. Security
SSL protects user data—whether that’s an email address submitted through a contact form, or sensitive payment information on an eCommerce site. Without SSL, this data is vulnerable to interception.
🏷️ 2. Trust and Credibility
Visitors are more likely to trust your website if they see that padlock icon. In contrast, modern browsers like Chrome and Safari now mark sites without SSL as “Not Secure”, which can instantly turn users away.
🚀 3. Better SEO
Google uses HTTPS as a ranking factor. That means having SSL can help your website appear higher in search results. It’s a small but meaningful boost in an increasingly competitive space.
💳 4. eCommerce Compliance
If you’re selling products or services online, SSL isn’t optional—it’s essential. Payment providers and platforms often require it for PCI compliance and basic security standards.
We Include SSL on Every Website We Build
At Falcon Digital, we don’t leave things like security or search engine rankings up to chance. Every website we build and host comes with a valid SSL certificate. That means your site is:
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Secure from day one
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Trusted by browsers
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Ready for search engines and online transactions
You won’t need to purchase anything separately, worry about renewals, or deal with setup. We manage it all.
If your current website doesn’t have SSL—or you’re unsure— please get in touch. We’ll take a look, sort it out, or help you upgrade to a secure, professionally managed setup.