SSL Certificate
A digital certificate that enables HTTPS encryption between your website and visitors' browsers.
An SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts the connection between a web server and a browser. When installed, it enables HTTPS and shows the padlock icon in the browser's address bar.
Technically, modern certificates use TLS (Transport Layer Security), the successor to SSL. But everyone still calls them "SSL certificates" — the name stuck even though the underlying technology evolved.
SSL certificates come in three types: Domain Validated (DV) — just proves you own the domain, Organization Validated (OV) — verifies the organization behind the domain, and Extended Validation (EV) — the most thorough verification. For most websites, a DV certificate is perfectly sufficient.
Free SSL certificates from Let's Encrypt have made HTTPS accessible to everyone. Most hosting providers offer one-click SSL setup. Cloudflare provides free SSL even on its free plan. There's no excuse for running an HTTP site in 2024.
Why It Matters for SEO
SSL certificates are required for HTTPS, which is a Google ranking factor. Without SSL, browsers display "Not Secure" warnings that drive visitors away. SSL also protects user data, builds trust, and is required for many modern web features.
🔍 How to Check This
AuditMySite checks your SSL certificate status and configuration as part of every scan.
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