SSL Certificates for Business Websites: Why HTTPS Matters
SSL certificates for business websites help protect information exchanged between a website and its visitors. They also allow the site to use HTTPS instead of an unsecured HTTP connection.
Google Chrome began marking all HTTP websites as “Not Secure” with the release of Chrome 68 in July 2018. That change is no longer new, but its message remains important. A business website that still uses HTTP may appear outdated or unsafe to customers, job applicants, vendors, and other visitors.
Installing a certificate is only one part of the process. A successful HTTPS migration also requires redirects, website updates, testing, certificate renewal, and ongoing monitoring.
What is an SSL certificate?
An SSL certificate helps create an encrypted HTTPS connection between a visitor’s browser and the website server.
The term “SSL certificate” is still widely used, although modern secure websites generally use the newer Transport Layer Security protocol, commonly called TLS. For most business owners, the practical result is the same: the certificate allows the browser to confirm the website’s identity and establish an encrypted connection.
Without HTTPS, information sent between the browser and the website may travel through an unencrypted connection. HTTPS helps protect the confidentiality and integrity of that communication.
According to Google’s HTTPS security guidance, HTTPS can help prevent third parties from viewing or changing information exchanged between a website and its visitors.
Why does Chrome label HTTP websites as Not Secure?
Chrome uses the warning to show that an HTTP connection does not provide the protections of HTTPS. Google announced the change in February 2018 and introduced it with Chrome 68 in July 2018.
Earlier versions of Chrome used a neutral information icon for many HTTP pages. The stronger warning made the security difference more visible to everyday users.
Business owners can review the original announcement on the official Chromium Blog.
What does the warning mean for an Atlanta business?
The warning may cause a visitor to question whether the website is maintained properly. Some users may leave before completing a form, requesting a quote, calling the company, or reading about its services.
This can be especially important for Atlanta businesses that ask visitors to provide information online, including:
- Law firms receiving consultation requests
- Accounting firms collecting client inquiries
- Real estate businesses receiving property questions
- Construction companies accepting estimate requests
- Veterinary practices receiving appointment inquiries
- Nonprofits collecting volunteer or donor information
- Manufacturers communicating with vendors and prospects
HTTPS does not prove that a company is legitimate, and it does not protect a website from every cyberattack. It does, however, provide an important layer of connection security that visitors now expect.
Does HTTPS help with Google Search rankings?
HTTPS is one signal Google may consider, but installing a certificate alone will not create strong search rankings. Helpful content, technical accessibility, relevance, page quality, website performance, and other factors remain important.
Google announced HTTPS as a lightweight ranking signal in August 2014. This corrects a common claim that Google first began considering HTTPS in 2015.
Business owners can read the original announcement in the Google Search Central Blog.
Why can a poorly managed HTTPS migration hurt visibility?
Moving from HTTP to HTTPS changes the URLs used to access the website. Search engines and visitors must be sent from each old HTTP address to the matching HTTPS address.
Google recommends permanent server-side redirects for URLs that have permanently moved. Without the correct redirects, a business may create broken links, duplicate pages, tracking problems, or confusion for search engines.
Is purchasing a certificate the only step?
No. The certificate must be installed, configured, tested, renewed, and supported by a complete HTTP-to-HTTPS migration.
Many hosting providers include certificates, and organizations such as Let’s Encrypt provide free TLS certificates. Other businesses use paid certificates or managed certificate services based on their hosting environment, validation needs, number of domains, and support requirements.
The certificate itself may be free or paid. The more important question is whether someone is responsible for configuring and maintaining it correctly.
What should be included in an HTTPS migration?
A complete migration should normally include the following steps:
- Review the hosting environment. Confirm that the server, website platform, plugins, and other services support HTTPS.
- Select the appropriate certificate. Determine whether the business needs coverage for one domain, several subdomains, or multiple websites.
- Install and configure the certificate. The certificate must be connected to the correct server and domain.
- Update internal website links. Images, scripts, forms, stylesheets, and links should load through HTTPS.
- Create permanent redirects. Each HTTP page should direct visitors to its HTTPS version.
- Update connected services. Analytics tools, advertising platforms, payment systems, Search Console, sitemaps, and integrations may need updated URLs.
- Test the website. Check forms, menus, images, downloads, logins, tracking, and mobile pages.
- Monitor certificate renewal. An expired certificate can trigger a browser warning and block normal access to the website.
What is mixed content?
Mixed content happens when an HTTPS page still loads an image, script, stylesheet, video, or another resource through HTTP. The main page may have a valid certificate, but the unsecured resources can still create warnings or be blocked by the browser.
This often happens on older WordPress websites after the certificate is installed. Old links may remain in page content, theme files, plugins, widgets, or the website database.
Common signs of an incomplete SSL installation
- The browser still displays a security warning
- Some pages use HTTPS while others still use HTTP
- Images or design elements stop loading
- Contact forms stop sending submissions
- HTTP and HTTPS versions remain accessible separately
- Website analytics show divided or missing data
- Visitors see a certificate expiration or domain mismatch warning
These problems require more than purchasing another certificate. They require a review of the website, server configuration, redirects, resources, and connected tools.
What does an SSL certificate protect?
An SSL certificate helps protect data while it travels between a visitor and the website. It does not secure every part of the website or the company’s technology environment.
An SSL certificate can help protect:
- Information submitted through website forms
- Login credentials sent through the website
- Data exchanged during an online session
- The integrity of content delivered to the visitor
An SSL certificate does not automatically protect against:
- Outdated WordPress plugins or website software
- Weak or reused administrator passwords
- Phishing emails sent to employees
- Malware on employee computers
- Compromised hosting accounts
- Missing backups or poor recovery planning
- Unauthorized access to Microsoft 365 or Google Workspace
Website encryption should be part of a broader Cybersecurity strategy that also addresses users, devices, email, cloud accounts, backups, access controls, and ongoing maintenance.
Who should manage website certificate renewals?
A specific person or provider should own the renewal process. The business should not assume that a web developer, hosting company, domain registrar, or internal employee is handling it without confirmation.
A simple ownership checklist should identify:
- Who manages the website hosting account
- Who controls the domain and DNS records
- Who installs and renews the certificate
- Whether renewal is automatic or manual
- Where expiration alerts are delivered
- Who tests the website after a renewal or migration
- Who responds when the website displays a security warning
This is also a good example of where proactive managed IT can help. Technology vendors, hosting services, employee devices, cloud platforms, and security tools often overlap. Clear vendor management and documented responsibility reduce the chance that an important renewal or configuration task will be missed.
When should a business ask an IT provider for help?
A business should consider professional support when it does not know who controls the domain, hosting account, DNS settings, certificate, website administration, or renewal process.
Support may also be useful when:
- The website still opens through HTTP
- The browser shows a certificate warning
- The certificate has expired
- The certificate was issued for the wrong domain
- An HTTPS migration caused broken pages or missing images
- Forms or integrations stopped working
- The company is unsure whether renewals are monitored
- Several vendors are involved and ownership is unclear
An IT provider can review how the website connects with the company’s broader technology environment and coordinate with the web developer, hosting provider, domain registrar, or internal team when needed.
Frequently asked questions about SSL certificates
Does every business website need an SSL certificate?
A public business website should use HTTPS, even if it does not sell products online. HTTPS protects website connections and helps prevent visitors from seeing an unsecured-site warning.
Can I get an SSL certificate for free?
Yes. Some hosting providers include certificates, and Let’s Encrypt provides free certificates. Installation, configuration, monitoring, troubleshooting, and website migration services may still involve a cost.
Why does my website still say Not Secure after installing SSL?
The site may contain mixed content, incorrect redirects, an expired certificate, a domain mismatch, or pages that still load through HTTP. The certificate and website configuration should be tested together.
Will HTTPS protect my website from hackers?
HTTPS protects information while it travels between the browser and server. It does not replace software updates, secure passwords, backups, malware protection, access controls, monitoring, or website maintenance.
Can an expired certificate take down a business website?
The website may remain online, but browsers can display a full security warning that discourages visitors from continuing. Certificate expiration should be monitored before it affects customers or employees.
Protect the website and the systems behind it
HTTPS is now a basic requirement for a professional business website. The certificate should be installed correctly, supported by permanent redirects, checked for mixed content, connected to the correct domain, and renewed before expiration.
Atlanta businesses should also look beyond the certificate. Website security works best when it is supported by updated software, secure accounts, reliable backups, device protection, documented vendor responsibilities, and ongoing IT monitoring.
Related Content
- Why Email Security Matters for Atlanta SMBs
- What is a Managed IT Service Provider (MSP) & How Can It Help Your Business?
To learn more about how trueITpros can help your company with Managed IT Services in Atlanta, contact us at www.trueitpros.com/contact.
