Squarespace SSL: How to Enable It and Why It’s So Important

It’s critical to ensure your Squarespace site is as secure as possible, especially if you ask people for their personal details or offer eCommerce functionality.

This is where an SSL certificate comes in handy!

Let’s look at what Squarespace SSL is, why it’s so important, and how to get an SSL certificate for your Squarespace site.

What is a Squarespace SSL certificate?

An SSL certificate is a digital certificate that encrypts the data sent from a web server to a web browser, and vice versa.

Let’s say that a customer buys something from an eCommerce store, and their credit card details are sent from their browser to the website. If a cybercriminal attacks the website, they could easily get this data if there isn’t an SSL certificate in place.

However, if there is an SSL certificate, any information sent across a website is protected. So if a cybercriminal tries to access the data, they’ll just see a random string of letters and numbers that means nothing to them.

You can tell that a website is protected by looking at the address bar. If there’s a closed padlock in place, it’s secure!

Why is SSL so important on your Squarespace website?

SSL certification shows that your Squarespace website is safe and protected, giving visitors the confidence to share their personal data with you.

Nearly two out of three people say they’ll leave a website straightaway if it’s not secure, so a Squarespace SSL certificate can mean more traffic, leads, and revenue.

It also means that if your site is caught up in a cyber attack, you’ve taken steps to protect your customers. This leads to less negative publicity and a reduced risk of violating legislation like GDPR.

Finally, SSL can give your Squarespace website a boost in the search engine rankings! By showing search engines like Google and Bing that you’re reliable and trustworthy, you’re more likely to rank high for relevant keywords.

How to enable Squarespace SSL

You might ask, ‘how long does Squarespace SSL take to set up?’ The good news is that it’s already set up for you!

All Squarespace sites automatically come with a free SSL certificate which should be automatically enabled. However, it’s always good to check to make sure it’s set up right.

Step 1

Log into your Squarespace account and go to Settings, Developer Tools, and SSL.

Step 2

It’s then a case of making sure Secure is selected and HSTS Secure is enabled – this setting forces browsers to access the secure version of your Squarespace site.

Step 3

Finally, Save your changes. If you make changes, it can take up to 72 hours for your Squarespace SSL certificate status to process and update.

If your Squarespace SSL isn’t working and you can’t see a padlock in your address bar, it’s likely that these options weren’t preselected.

And that’s all there is to it! Enjoy all the benefits that a secure website brings.