Businesses have entered an era where all fundamental operations rely on the internet. The trend has led to a genuinely stunning rate of increase in websites. Although internet-based operations come with many benefits to business owners, they have also created new challenges and risks that call for vigilance and extreme measures.

Of the many challenges that the internet has come with, cybersecurity is the most precarious. All website owners must address this issue seriously, failure to which devastating repercussions await them. A successful cybersecurity attack can be costly to repair, and in worst-case scenarios, victims end up shutting down their businesses.

With the knowledge of increasing cybersecurity threats and the high costs that victims of cyber breaches incur, tech gurus and IT experts have done enough to try and keep the internet a safe haven. We have seen the milestones they have covered. They have developed adequate tools and protocols to help website owners maintain the utmost levels of safety. As a website owner, the ball is in your coat. You must ensure that you have all the necessary tools and practices to ensure that your website, resources, and website visitors are all safe.

What is an SSL Certificate?

SSL certificate stands for Secure Socket Layer. Netscape initially developed it in 1994. Its primary objective was to allow web browsers to access web servers safely.

SSL certificates provide information security to information traveling between two points over the internet. It is a crucial website security element because it ensures information integrity, confidentiality, and authentication. The certificate achieves these essential security elements by using cryptography and digital signatures.

How Does an SSL Certificate Work?

SSL CRYPTOGRAPHY

For an SSL certificate to protect information as it moves to and from your website servers to users’ browsers, it uses cryptography. The data in transit is encrypted until it reaches its intended destination. Two types of data encryption that you should know are symmetric cryptography and asymmetric cryptography.

The former refers to cryptography, which uses similar keys to encrypt and decrypt information. The key is agreed upon by both parties, and it should remain static.

Asymmetric cryptography is where two keys are used. One key will encrypt the information, whereas the other key will decrypt the information. Asymmetric cryptography is more favorable because, even when someone knows details about one key, he would not decrypt the information unless he has the second key. Furthermore, two parties can spawn a transaction or communication with asymmetric cryptography without having to meet. This is facilitated by the incorporation of both public and private keys.

The organization’s public key is “public knowledge” and specializes in encryption purposes. The private key of the organization remains a secret and is primarily meant to decrypt the encrypted information.

Significance of SSL Certificate in Website Security

1. Data integrity

Data integrity refers to the reliability, overall completeness, accuracy, trustworthiness, and consistency of data over its life cycle. It is concerned with finding out whether your web site’s information was tampered with since it was transferred.

A website that lacks an SSL certificate exposes its data repositories to malicious intruders. The intruders can easily alter the meaning and purpose of the information in transit. The SSL certificate scrambles the data into a meaningless form that intruders cannot decipher. It would be impossible for someone to understand or make any changes to such information.

2. Authentication

Today, many fake websites are after extorting money from unsuspecting users. Cybercriminals may easily make a replica website that looks like yours to steal from you. Authentication will help a user to verify the ownership of a website.

Before you acquire an SSL certificate from a trusted CA, the CA will first have to establish your identity. Your web visitors can check your details by clicking on the padlock icon to ensure that they interact with your website and not a fake website.

3. Data encryption

As I explained earlier, encryption is where information in transit is scrambled into a meaningless form that cannot be deciphered by anyone who attempts to intercept it. This is a vital point for you, mainly when you deal with critical information that requires confidentiality. Such information may include; credit card and debit card numbers, financial information, health records, and other confidential information.

Wildcard SSL Certificate – The Most Ideal and Cost Effective Certificate

Website owners often ask me about the best SSL certificate they should use for their websites. You should know that all certificates offer the same level of encryption. However, the criteria of choosing the best certificate go beyond security or encryption strength. You should choose a certificate that gives the maximum benefits, and this is why I have always advised people to go for a Wildcard SSL certificate.

The wildcard SSL certificate is the most cost-effective option on the market. As a user, you will not have to buy a certificate for each subdomain. It can secure up to an unlimited number of first-level subdomains. As a user, you save money and time that would have been needed to purchase and manage multiple SSL certificates for each subdomain. Certificate management is also easy as it is a consolidated process.

To save money and time while ensuring that your website receives the utmost encryption levels, you should consider this certificate. The good news is that; they are not as expensive as they sound. We have vendors and resellers offering cheap wildcard SSL certificates at affordable prices.

How Do You Obtain The SSL Certificate?

Now that you know why an SSL certificate is essential on your website, I know you are psyched up to have one, and you are probably wondering how you can go about the acquisition and installation process.

First, before you start stressing yourself with a myriad of thoughts on acquiring the certificate and how you will install it, it is prudent that you find out whether your hosting provider offers the certificate. Until recently, most hosting providers offered SSL certificates as a premium feature.

If your hosting provider does not have the SSL certificate option, you might want to consider the paid option. There are a number of cheap SSL certs providers such as GlobalSign, DigiCert, etc. For instance, if you are running an enterprise-level website, you should consider the Extended Validation certificate, which has strict authentication that will add more visible trust indicators.

Summing Up

SSL certificates have brought incredible benefits to websites. Apart from enhancing website security, SSL certificates also help build a reputable brand by enhancing your web visitors’ trust. The certificate also plays a significant role in improving website ranks. You should know that Google uses an SSL certificate as a crucial ranking factor. To boost SEO, you should consider installing the certificate.

Aside from big data, cloud computing is among the fastest-growing technologies in the world. Going by the IDC Report that public school spending on cloud computing will grow from $229 in 2019 to almost $500 in 2023, there is already a spiking interest in cloud computing. As businesses consider shifting their operations to the cloud, many providers have come forward with unique cloud offerings. At the top of the list is Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud, and IBM.

Microsoft Azure commands up to 19% of the $36.5 Billion market share, commanding the attention of top tier banks and several Fortune 500 companies who are interested in the more than 100 cloud services offerings. For this reason, it is worth some serious consideration by IT professionals in the cloud arena. While it is very rewarding to possess skills, undertaking the Azure architect training and acquiring a certification takes serious dedication and discipline. You can learn Azure on your own. However, a certification stands as credible proof of your knowledge and skills. 

Getting started with Azure

For beginners, choosing to learn Azure is certainly a good move. However, figuring out your learning path can be overwhelming. The good news is that Microsoft has plenty of free online resources for all learners at various experience levels. This article offers valuable guidelines on learning Azure on your own.

First off, however, it is important to know that Azure has service offerings in several categories including compute, networking, storage, containers, databases, web and mobile, IoT, security, development tools, monitoring, and others. To master Azure comprehensively, you may consider familiarizing yourself with these services.

Here are some guidelines for planning your learning path. 

1. Getting the grips: Azure terminology

Getting started with Azure is not as difficult. First things first, like any other field, Azure has its own share of jargon that you need to get familiar with to understand Azure concepts. Basic terms like Azure Active Directory the identity access manager, Azure resource manager (RM) the framework that manages resources, Azure Stack the set of products that lets companies extend Azure resources in environments of their choice, and other basic terms. 

• Skills required to learn Azure

Preparing to learn Azure means that you need to have the basic skills required to enable you to have smooth learning especially if you are new in the cloud computing field. Such skills as

• Basic cloud computing including databases, networking, and computer operating systems
• Servers and infrastructure support
• Microsoft knowledge
• Knowledge of virtual machines
• Programming background particularly with .Net language which is mostly

While it may be argued that you do not require programming skills to learn the basics of Azure, having this knowledge gives you an easier time grasping concepts. However, you could opt to take the AZ-900 fundamentals course before considering programming. When you will be ready to pursue an advanced-level course, say the AZ-103 administrator course, you’ll require programming skills.

• Learning the fundamentals

Here is where you learn the fundamentals of Azure. There are plenty of free learning resources available on the Microsoft Azure training website for learners at all levels. Here, you will acquaint yourself with Azure virtual machines, networks, Platform as a Service (PaaS), and cloud migration among other topics. In general, you will learn about Azure concepts, core services, management tools, security, compliance, and much more. Starting with the Azure fundamentals training course, you will find the courses organized in a way that you can advance your knowledge systematically. 

To increase your knowledge, check out

• Microsoft Azure Tutorial site developed by Microsoft for professionals who intend to pursue software development. 
• Microsoft Technet site if you are ready to dive deeper into advanced theory and technical Azure concepts.
• YouTube tutorials. Microsoft Azure videos are also available on YouTube in addition to resourceful tutorials from third party channels like Azure DevOps and Cloud Ranger Network.
• Microsoft Learn, a comprehensive resource with valuable content on Azure and other technologies that equips professionals with technical skills based on their job roles or learning paths.
• Deeper knowledge: Azure documentation

Microsoft Azure documentation offers more tutorials and quickstart guides to help you gain a practical understanding of how Azure service offerings operate. The documentation on the Azure portal offers detailed step-by-step guides with diagrams for launching, operating, scaling, configuring, and managing specific Azure products along with APIs.

• Getting hands-on experience

All theoretical concepts in mind without hands-on knowledge does not give you an edge in the job market. Beyond taking advantage of free Azure training courses, also open a free account on the self-paced labs site to develop practical skills. The free Azure account is limited to one year of free services. Within the first month, you will be awarded free $200 credit to explore the portal. You can test, deploy enterprise services, build mobile user experiences, and much more to test your knowledge. 

Other great hands-on learning resources include

• The free interactive Microsoft learn portal that offers both theoretical and hands-on training on various technologies including Azure. 

• GitHub, the largest development platform is open-source thus offering free access for ardent learners who are confident enough to build their skills by working on projects. With a vibrant community of millions of developers, there is much to learn from Azure developers. Aside from this, the Microsoft Azure GitHub site offers not just hands-on learning but also tips and tricks to get you through faster. 

• Internships, if you can land one without prior official training, presents an excellent option for testing your knowledge. 
• Consider mentors. Mentors can train you on the job or assist you with your projects.

• Training and getting certified

While it is not a must to get certified, a certification course will boost your employability by validating your skills. Structured instructor-led courses help you attain professional guidance with real-world experience. If you intend to skip ‘groping around’ by going straight to an already prepared curriculum, enrolling in a training course is the way to go.

Granted, you can go through the basics relatively fast and easily on your own. However, you may need to enlist the services of an instructor to walk you through the advanced levels of Azure for instance creating services like virtual networks, web apps, and deploying databases in Azure.

Azure certifications you may be interested in pursuing include

• Microsoft Certified Azure Administrator
• Microsoft Certified Azure Developer
• Microsoft Certified Azure Solutions Architect
• Microsoft Certified DevOps Engineer
• Microsoft Certified Azure Security Engineer

• Become part of the Azure community

Microsoft Azure has a large vibrant following of developers and other professionals. It is open-source and makes Azure community forums the place to pick up expert tips, latest trends, and developments, find mentors, as well as put in your contribution, and see how others react to it. 

In conclusion

Because learning never ends, you consider advancing your knowledge on platforms like the Azure Architecture Center where you learn how all about building end-to-end solutions on Azure platform, Cloud Adoption Framework where you get guides on Azure cloud adoption lifecycle, strategy, migration, and management, other platforms like the Azure Security platform and aspects like compliance, service level agreements, and privacy. Finally, stay up to date by getting involved in virtual and local tech meetups. These give you a one-on-one experience with industry experts where your questions are answered.

There are many features to look for in a cyber insurance policy, from legal advice to business interruption to privacy breaches. Let’s talk through some of the most important elements of cover to help you decide what you need in a policy.

To start with, legal advice has become the aspect of cyber insurance most used by businesses, with 73% of organisations admitting to claiming legal assistance with their policy in a 2020 survey for the UK Government’s Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. It is worth checking whether your insurance provider includes access to law experts as part of its package. 

The best cyber insurance packages also include business interruption protection. This is at the core of cyber policies and means that if an IT failure or cyber-attack disrupts business activity, insurers will pay for the loss of income or increased costs of trading in the aftermath of an incident. 

According to NimbleFins, another important aspect of cyber insurance is cover for privacy breach costs, as it protects a business from what could be hefty damages paid to customers if their data is leaked. This clause in a policy can also cover the cost of notifying customers of a breach, investigation costs and legal fees.

If a business relies on a complex private network to run its business it is worth ensuring a policy has protection for restoring computer systems as well. 

Organisations that use many electronic devices should consider whether to include an asset replacement clause that would cover the cost of new devices or restoring lost, corrupt, or altered data. Sometimes asset costs can be covered by contents insurance, but it is worth checking the small print to see if your existing cover would include replacing electronics as the result of a cyberattack.  

Cyber insurance cover features

Cyber insurance cover features third party protection to your customers and other contacts who are affected by a covered incident as well as first-party, direct costs to your business as a result of a cyber incident. The extent of coverage depends on your policy and whether it has both first party and third party protection. 

First party cover can include:

Business interruption: This is the core policy in cyber insurance and covers loss of income or profits when a cyberattack or IT incident prevents trade from taking place. 

Investigations: To find the source of the incident. 

Managing an attack: Legal and other expert advice and assistance to help navigate the law and restore systems. This could be whether a business is the victim of a hack, data or security breach, virus, or IT network failure. 

Cyber extortion: Practical advice if a ransom is ordered from hackers. In some cases (although not advised as the first port of call) insurers can cover the financial demand. 

Recovering lost data or programmes: Experts can come to the rescue of a business to repair systems and bring back lost documents.

Restoring computer systems: To get a business back up and running. 

Notification costs: Covering the expense of notifying customers or other third party victims of a data breach. 

Reputation management: For example, funding a PR campaign or paying for free credit monitoring or credit protection services for affected customers.

Third-party protection covers costs relating to a customer base or other third parties. This can be invaluable in protecting a reputation and includes:

Media liability: Covering investigation, defence and damages if a third party has a claim of defamation as a result of private information published in the media.

Privacy protection: If a third party’s right to privacy has been breached by a lapse in security, insurance can cover legal defence costs and settlements. 

Does cyber insurance cover ransomware?

Reputable cyber insurance policies cover ransomware attacks. This could include paying for an expert’s advice on how to negotiate with the hacker, as well as reimbursing the ransom amount paid under duress. 

Cyber extortion – when a hacker seizes control of an organisation’s computer system or data until a fee is paid – is now standard in most cyber insurance policies. It is becoming more popular as businesses move online. In some cases, the ransomware policy can also cover the ransom theft – if the money is stolen on the way to the hacker. 

Does cyber insurance cover GDPR fines? 

It is unclear whether cyber insurance will cover GDPR fines, but policies should help with other implications of a GDPR breach, such as legal advice. Until there is a test case it cannot be said for certain whether cyber insurance will cover GDPR fines. 

Under GDPR laws, fines can be up to €20 million or 4% of the company’s turnover, worldwide, whichever is greater. Fines are not usually covered by insurance as it negates the impact of the punishment, therefore they lose their status as a deterrent. Businesses should decide if fines are covered “to the extent insurable by law”, Lexology says.

Cyber insurance does cover legal advice and can pay for costs associated with reporting a GDPR breach to customers. Cyber insurance can also help with recovering lost data and other aspects of managing a security breach.