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How HTTPS and SSL Certificates Improve Your WordPress Site Security

How HTTPS and SSL Certificates Improve Your WordPress Site Security

Jenna James / May 16th, 2025

WordPress powers over 40% of the websites worldwide, making up a prominent chunk of global web traffic.

So, what’s the problem?

Well, this popularity also makes WordPress websites a significant target for cyberattacks, making it important to implement robust security protocols. No wonder, a WordPress website is attacked every 22 minutes. Your website data is most vulnerable in transit, as the process exposes it to theft and interception attempts by malicious parties.

This is where implementing HTTPS and SSL certificates for your website can help you. Eager to know what they are and why they are considered a pivotal part of the top cybersecurity practices for retailers and websites? Let’s find out.

Understanding HTTPS and SSL Certificates

For the uninitiated, HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is popular as the secure version of HTTP, which strives to encrypt and secure data exchange or transfer between two parties. SSL (Secure Socket Layer) or TLS is used to enable the secure transmission of data between the two parties by verifying the website’s identity.

SSL certificates entail digital credentials that can help websites enable encryption for transferring sensitive information, such as passwords, payment information, and specific personal data, to another website. As of 2023, almost 83% of websites used an SSL certificate in some capacity.

The three types of SSL certificates that you should know about are:

Domain Validation (DV): This SSL certificate provides basic validation, can be issued super-fast, and covers domain ownership.
Organization Validation (OV): This SSL certificate validates the domain ownership and ensures the legitimacy of the organization.
Extended Validation (EV): The EV SSL certificate provides the highest level of security by thoroughly vetting both the domains.

So, if you process or deal with large volumes of transaction or customer data, SSL certificates are non-negotiable for you. Some common risks associated with unsecured WordPress websites include data theft, malware injections, and man-in-the-middle attacks, making even more of a strong case for comprehensive protection and security protocols.

6 Ways HTTPS and SSL Certificates Protect Your WordPress Site Security

Now that we have covered the basics of HTTPS and SSL certificates, let’s look at some of the primary ways they help when you are looking to beef up your WordPress site’s security.

#1 Encrypts Data in Transit

The most crucial benefit of opting for HTTPS and an SSL certificate is that they ensure that all data exchanged between your browser and server is fully encrypted. As a result, it is preferable when you want to protect any user credentials, transaction data, and customer information.

The purpose of obtaining an SSL certificate for your website is to ensure that all your data is safeguarded against criminals and malicious parties that may be trying to intercept or misuse your sensitive data.

#2 Authenticates Website Identity

SSL certificates play the role of the verifier that authenticates the identity of your website. Doing so ensures that no other party or cybercriminal can impersonate your website or trick users into divulging personal data.

Plus, it can add an extra layer of security to your website and protect it from cyberattacks such as malware infections and hacking attempts, which can have a devastating effect on your website’s performance and customer database.

#3 Maintains Integrity of Data

SSL and TLS protocols are embedded with cryptographic mechanisms that help them maintain the integrity of the data transmissions between your WordPress website and users. In this context, having an SSL certificate ensures that the data being exchanged cannot be altered or tampered with.

The process is pretty straightforward. A hash is assigned to your data when it is being sent out from a website, and the recipient must verify that the hash remains the same once the data reaches. The same hash ensures that no data has been altered, and a mismatch will result in immediate termination of the connection or data rejection.

#4 Provides SEO Benefits

As you may already be aware, Google considers HTTPS as a ranking factor, making it important for your WordPress website to obtain it if you are seeking an extra competitive edge in the SERPs and organic traffic from search engines.

What’s more, a Google Transparency Report suggested that in 2024, Chrome users spent around 93% of their browsing time on HTTPS websites and pages. Adding the HTTPS prefix to your website ensures that your website is prioritized above those that still use HTTP.

#5 Elevates User Confidence & Engagement

Adding the HTTPS prefix is not only for the encryption and protection of your data during transfer, but also to reassure users that their sensitive or personal information is in safe hands.

Users can easily differentiate websites secured by HTTPS from the ones that aren’t by the padlock symbol in the browser bar. They are likely to trust websites secured with HTTPS and are more likely to engage with them as they indicate a secure connection.

#6 Enhances Performance of Your Multi-Layered Security Strategy

There is sufficient evidence to suggest that implementing HTTPS not just elevates your security, but also enhances user performance by boosting loading times. However, it is important to keep in mind that HTTPS is only the foundation of your security strategy, and you need to have a much more comprehensive protocol in place to protect your data and website.

To ensure that your website is always secure and safeguarded from external threats, you need to have a multi-layered strategy, of which HTTPS is just a small part. You also need to maintain regular updates of your WordPress website’s theme, plugins, and core functionalities. You must also consider implementing two-factor authentication and installing relevant security plugins.

Concluding Remarks

For IT leaders and developers, opting for HTTPS and SSL certificates for their websites is a no-brainer and should be a baseline requirement. Not only do they protect your data and enhance your website security, but you can also build more trust and engagement among users.

That said, security isn’t just about encryption; it starts with a solid foundation. A reliable hosting provider, like Tribulant Hosting, ensures your WordPress site remains protected with built-in security features, SSL support, and regular backups, so you can focus on what truly matters.

Ultimately, making HTTPS a core part of your security strategy, along with choosing the right hosting, will help safeguard your website for the long run.

Author

Carl Torrence is a Content Marketer at Marketing Digest. His core expertise lies in developing data-driven content for brands, SaaS businesses, and agencies. In his free time, he enjoys binge-watching time-travel movies and listening to Linkin Park and Coldplay albums.