What Is an SSL Certificate and Why Do I Need It? #
An SSL certificate is a file installed on the web server that ensures the domain name in the certificate matches the domain name of the website. It enables a visitor’s browser to establish a secure, encrypted connection to the site.
While encryption is essential for financial transactions, it’s equally important for securing private data like usernames and passwords exchanged between your site and a visitor’s browser.
Without an SSL certificate and an HTTPS connection, this private data remains unencrypted and vulnerable to security risks.
Let’s Encrypt Wildcard SSL Certificate #
HostGhost offers Let’s Encrypt certificates, which are provided by the Let’s Encrypt project. These certificates offer basic protection but do not include warranties, website seals, or additional services that come with certificates from trusted authorities.
The key benefit of Let’s Encrypt is that it’s free. It’s a great option if you want to enable HTTPS without handling financial or sensitive data.
Let’s Encrypt certificates need to be renewed every 90 days, but don’t worry—we automatically handle the renewal process for you.
Note that in addition to the options presented here, you can use a third-party SSL certificate on your HostGhost-hosted website(s). A dedicated IP address addon is not required for Let’s Encrypt certificates.
