An SSL certificate is displayed for websites in the form of a padlock icon in the address bar, a green bar, and a URL that starts with https://

Behind the scenes, this means that the website has been verified and any information passed between the server and a visitor’s web browser is securely encrypted.  An SSL connection is vital for any website that requests or stores personal information such as contact details or payment information.

SSL is the globally recognised standard for secure data encryption between server and browser.

An SSL certificate not only signals trust and authority to your website visitors, it also helps protect them when browsing your website.  It prevents data interception and shows your business has been validated, ensuring complete peace of mind for your visitors.

Furthermore, research has shown that a valid SSL certificate reduces abandoned baskets, increases sales, and makes people more confident about shopping with you. It’s a must-have when you’re selling online.

Regardless of whether you take payments or not, search engines such as Google have openly stated that they view an SSL certificate as a mark of trust and that having one can directly improve your search engine rankings.

Not only that, the message presented to your visitors by browsers (especially Chrome), when you don't have an SSL Certificate WILL only get worse.