Every 39 seconds there is some form of cyber hack. That means by the time the day is over there was around 2,215 cyber-attacks, with a one in a three chance of you being personally affected. Kind of an alarming statistic, however, knowledge is power. Continue reading to learn how to protect yourself, your business, and your clients.
So, what is cyber security exactly? The name itself pretty much explains it, but cyber security is a preventative measure to keep valuable information from being compromised.
Forms of Cyber Security are:
- Anti-Virus Software
- Software Patches
One of the most common cyber security tactics for online business is an SSL certificate.
SSL & TLS
Think about all of the FBI and CIA shows you’ve watched over the years. On more than one occasion you probably heard them mention talking on a “secured phone line” to pass along information and prevent the bad guys from listening in. SSL and TLS basically are the digital secure line between you and the website you are viewing, that way no outside parties can see the information you are sharing.
SSL certificates fall under the encryption category form of cyber security and was developed by Netscape. It was the most widely deployed cryptographic protocol from 1995-1999. In 1999 TLS, Transport Layer Security, was introduced as a new version of SSL.
Both SSL and TLS are cryptographic protocols that provide authentication and data encryption between servers, machine and application operating over a network. “SSL certificate” is still used as the most common reference to both SSL and TLS protocol.
Why Should a Business Get an SSL Certificate?
Protecting your customers personal information while viewing your website or online store should be of interest to any business. Not only is it the right and responsible thing to do it also establishes a level of trust and credibility.
Another reason your business should invest in SSL is SEO opportunities. According to our digital marketing director Google looks more favorably upon SSL sites versus non-secured sites in its search engine ranking algorithms.
How Do You Get an SSL Certificate?
There are a few ways you can get an SSL certificate.
- You can go through your hosting provider. (All of Americom Marketing’s hosting packages come with SSL)
- You can purchase an agreement with an individual provider
In general, it is not an overly complicated process to get an SSL certificate and the benefits far out way any minor inconvenience or costs to become a secure site. Being a cyber secure site protects your customers, establishes trusts, and boosts your SEO.