As a human, it’s hard to motivate yourself to prepare for a threat that’s not imminent. The reason why insurance salesmen find it hard to enroll people who are healthy, happy, and well, into their policies.
The same case is replicated when it comes to website security. You will never know when it’s the time that your professionally designed site being the target for hackers. Perhaps, you simply think that getting an SSL (Secure Socket Layer) certificate is too tedious. Whatever the case, having an insecure site is such a bummer.
For instance, Google announced that they’ll be marking sites without an SSL certificate as “Not Secure” as of 2018; which will serve to warn their users of possible threats in marked sites. What does that mean for your bottom line?
The problem is, much as web surfers may not understand all there is with regards to this jargon; they want their information and data to be secure. That is their login details, credit card information, etc.
Well, here are some reasons why you need to secure your website.
1. Protection Website From Malware
With a secure site, you get to protect yourself, your business, your customers, and the public. How?
An insecure site is prone to various vulnerabilities among them hacking, bots, and malicious scripts which are used to infect websites. They collect data or hijack computer resources. In some cases, this malicious software can redirect your customers to other sites. In case a site is infected, it can serve as a ‘stem cell’. Allowing for the spread of the attack to other sites and web infrastructure. Think of the attack as a deadly cancer disease!
2. Protecting Personal Data
Secondly, with a secure site, you’ll be safeguarding your personal information and that of your customer. Preventing these precious data from getting into unintended hands.
Note that data breaches create scandals and customer outrage that can escalate to lawsuits. Worse, this not only affects your business’s reputation. Your overall bottom line but can also significantly ruin a customer’s life. More so if the stolen information is sensitive such as NRIC information and credits card numbers which will see them lose money or worse suffer from identity theft.
With that said, protecting data to and from your site equates to protecting valuable assets and confidential information that you would not want in the hands of your competitors or those of villainous data thieves. Therefore, ensure your site is in line with the WordPress security best practices or employ WordPress maintenance services for overall protection & peace of mind.
3. Be A Trusted Website
Every search engine is pushing for a more secure web.
Google, in particular, pledged to update the labeling of HTTP sites in search bars (such as chrome URL bar) in 2018. Previously, insecure sites are labeled with a grey information symbol warning the user to steer clear of the site following its vulnerability to attacks.
Now, Google has included a “Not Secure” mark displayed plainly before a user can click on the information symbol. With time, this exercise will be taken a notch higher with Google marking insecure HTTP sites using a red triangle with the “Not Secure” warning written in red. When a visitor on a flagged “Not Secure” labeled site begins to key in personal details such as email address or phone numbers; the type of data and information that SSL certificates are crafted to protect; the warning in the search bar turns into red which the embedded exclamation mark becomes bolder.
Can you imagine how a customer inputting their information say credit card numbers will react on seeing the warning?
Basically, the warning label denotes sites that aren’t HTTPS or sites lacking an SSL certificate.
The two can be complicated jargon for most users to understand but be sure that they will be skeptical to open let alone purchase from a flagged site. Who can blame them?
The danger of having your personal data in the wrong hands is grave-like, so if you want to keep your customers and attract more, you need to put your visitors’ minds at ease.
4. Better Google Search Ranking
Well, this is a no-brainer. Given Google’s preference for the HTTPS site, there is a carrot to go with those sticks.
Think about it! Most sites are yet to jump into the security bandwagon (just take a quick look at your competitor’s website). This means that you’re bound to reap the benefits of being a step ahead in the Google rankings.
Notwithstanding, every entrepreneur is in a heft search for ways to boost their search rankings, means to improve their SEO (Search Engine Optimization). Therefore, getting consideration from search engine’s algorithms however tiny can put you on the map; increasing your website traffic over time. And all you need to do is utilize WordPress security best practices or deploy WordPress maintenance services for easier and more efficient outcomes.
On the same note, a secure site builds trust and confidence among users which will likely increase conversions. In doubt?
Well, there are approximately 1.7 billion websites on the internet at the time of writing this blog (Aug 2019), and users depend on search engines to get information regarding these sites. That means, the higher you rank in the search rankings the more views your site gets which is a competitive advantage. That will, in turn, translates to more conversions and an improved bottom line.
5. Secure Payment
With a secure site, it’s possible to make sales and transacts using credit cards. That’s so because people are being discrete, careful than before when it comes to handing out personal information.
Moreover, recent research discovered that 85% of web surfers would abandon an online purchase on an insecure site. We think that this phenomenon is happening on non-eCommerce sites too. Imagine that you got to a site and about to send them an inquiry. A big red ‘Not Secure’ warning on top might just stop you from hitting the ‘Send’ button.
With an SSL certificate on your website, your user’s information can be sent with encryption. In the case that someone (hacker) tries to steal the information, they will not be able to access the information without the right secret key.
This simply means that when your customer type in their credit card information on your website & hit the ‘Buy’ button, all information is securely sent across the web. Now you have a happy customer!
Here’s Some Good News
Innovative Hub got your back on all matters of web security. As we’re determined to ensure you have a secure website throughout your WordPress site.
By having regular website maintenance and taking into account the WordPress security best practices, we can help you to prevent some of the messy hassles of getting your site hacked or compromised. Talk to our expert & let us secure your WordPress site today!