What Is SSL and Do I Need It?
You will have seen the little padlock icon next to a web address without giving it much thought. Here is what it means, and why it is not something to skip on a business website.
What SSL actually is
SSL is the technology behind that padlock icon and the “https” at the start of a web address. In simple terms, it scrambles the information travelling between a visitor’s browser and your website, so if someone fills in a form or types their details, that information cannot be easily intercepted along the way.
Think of it like sending a letter in a sealed envelope rather than on a postcard. Anyone can technically see a postcard in transit; a sealed envelope keeps the contents private between sender and recipient.
Why it matters for a small business
SSL is not just a technical nicety, it affects how trustworthy your site looks and even whether people can reach it comfortably:
- Browser warnings. Sites without SSL are flagged as “Not Secure” by Chrome and other browsers, right in the address bar.
- Customer trust. Visitors, consciously or not, associate the padlock with a business that has its basics in order.
- Forms and enquiries. If your site has a contact or booking form, SSL is the baseline expectation for handling that information responsibly.
A “Not Secure” warning next to your business name is the kind of thing that quietly loses you enquiries before a visitor has even read a word of your page.
Setting up SSL yourself
If you are managing your own hosting, SSL usually means obtaining a certificate, installing it correctly, and renewing it before it expires, since an expired certificate can turn that reassuring padlock into an alarming warning overnight. Many hosting providers offer a free option, but it still needs to be switched on and kept current, which is one more setting to remember.
Included as standard with LaunchSite
SSL is included in every LaunchSite plan, set up correctly from day one and kept renewed automatically, alongside hosting, a standard domain and email forwarding. You will never need to check a certificate or worry about a warning appearing on your site.
If you are weighing up what is genuinely necessary versus optional extras, our guide to what you actually need to pay for when getting a website covers the essentials, or see full pricing.
How SSL fits with hosting and your domain
SSL works alongside your hosting and your domain name, it is the security layer sitting over both. On their own, hosting and a domain get your site online; SSL makes sure the connection to it is private and properly trusted by browsers. LaunchSite handles all three together, so nothing is left half set up.