Getting To Grips with Online Security

For any business security is important, yet small companies often face a more difficult challenge than larger firms. As a business with limited financial resources, you can't always afford large in-house IT teams or rely on custom-built software.

As a result, the best entrepreneur needs to find cost effective methods that remain just as efficient. In an age dominated by online data protection, performance is something that cannot be compromised. Fortunately, there are a number of steps you can take, such as an SSL certificate.

What is SSL? 

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer and refers to private communications between your server and other users. This is what keeps customer information from leaking: by encrypting the data sent back and forth, it is all the more difficult for would-be data thieves to listen in. Consequently, the better the SSL, the more difficult it is for thieves to intercept, which makes it more likely that hackers will look elsewhere.

OpenSSL is an open-source version which is ideal for use with smaller businesses. As an open-source variant, OpenSSL is easy to tailor and customise to your needs. Many companies use this across the globe because it is affordable, regularly updated and enables your company to obtain an SSL certificate.

How do certificates help? 

Having security in place is pointless if people are not aware of it, so you need a way to show off your efforts. Not only does it provide official proof of your protection, an SSL certificate can keep your business secure at the same time. A certificate represents a certain recognised grade of achievement, which will often result in a green padlock symbol appearing in various web browsers. This small symbol reassures customers that the information they give you is safe, helping to build further trust between you and them.

There are different certificates available. Depending on the nature of your business, you may want to invest in an Extended Validation Secure Sockets Layer certificate, or EV SSL for short. EV SSL goes even further to check information being sent back and forth. If anything happens in between, such as someone trying to steal data, you’ll be aware.

When dealing with the likes of B2B, this extra precaution is something many will expect as standard practise. The right SSL certificate proves you take your business and its data protection obligations seriously without breaking the bank.