Big Changes You Can’t Miss in 2017
The New Year brings important changes with Secure Socket Layer (SSL) & Google Chrome in January that can’t be missed.
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With the New Year upon us, 2017 presents a few major items that small businesses can’t miss to be successful on the web in 2017. While the ever present battle of keyword optimization, social media marketing, and high quality content generation are going to be keys to success, there is one looming change that is happening this January that you can’t miss.
According to Google’s Security Blog, in January 2017 Google Chrome, the most widely used browser on the internet by people (aka customers) today, will begin flagging websites as ” Not Secure” if your website is not SSL Secured in update 56. This means that if your website does not have a tested and successful SSL version, potential customers will get large distracting messages about your website not being secure if you don’t take action today.
Now getting SSL secured doesn’t have to be painful, and it doesn’t have to be expensive. While there are many vendors like Go Daddy and others that will “sell” you a certificate that you then have to figure out how to install for $50-$250 annually, your friends at Solution Effect have partnered with the leading vendor Lets Encrypt to offer this solution for a single month cost of $249 on our Silver Package, with a Social Media boost to boast about your new secure website to your customers and start 2017 off with sales and growth instead of technology challenges.
Benefits of SSL Encryption in 2017
Accept Payments On Your Website
In order to meet Payment Card Industry compliance, an online business needs an SSL certificate with the proper encryption of at least 128-bit. PCI standards verify that the SSL certificate is from a trusted source, uses the right strength of encryption and provides a private connection on any page that requires customers to enter personal information. Without a certificate that meets these standards, a site won’t be able to take credit card payments.
Guard Against Phishing
Phishing emails often contain links that lead unsuspecting customers to a convincing replica of an otherwise reputable site. Often disguised as advertisements or shipping confirmations, these emails attempt to gather credit card information for malicious use. However, the people who build these fake sites will have a hard time obtaining an authentic SSL certificate. When customers don’t see the signs of security on a site, they’re more likely to navigate away without entering any information.
Improves Customer Trust
Given the benefits, going through the authorization process necessary to obtain a trusted SSL certificate is worth the effort. Attempting to operate without one deters customers and makes it difficult or impossible to take payments. Online shoppers want to know that their sensitive personal information is safe as it goes through cyberspace, and investing in SSL security is the best way to give them that peace of mind. Make 2017 the year that customers trust you and your brand.