How important is it really to have an SSL Secure Website?

The simple answer is this: if you have a website, it needs to be SSL Secured.

Google Chrome, the very popular web browser, now shows an unsecure site warning for any website which is not SSL protected.

If your website does not have an SSL certificate installed, it is very bad news for the following reasons:

• If you have an ecommerce website you will lose virtually all sales as the checkout process will highlight lack of security
• Even if you do not have an ecommerce site, your visitors wil see the unsecure site warning and be reticent to continue browsing your website
• Google has confirmed that Non-SSL websites will suffer in search rankings

Bascially it is simply good practice, good for your visiotrs and good for your rankings to install an SSL certificate. Any site can be SSL secured, but you need to be careful in what certificate you install. Simple websites need only basic SSL, whereas large scale ecommerce sites need heavy duty SSL that involves wildcard redirects and other features. Talk to a consultant before installing SSL as there are technical requirements to cover off – having basic SSL installed by your web hosting company is usually a bad idea, as they do not usually look closely at your website and your ongoing requirements. You could end up paying more than you need to.

Take this as a warning and an opportunity. The benefits to you are vast, but talk to a consultant before proceeding.