If you have ever noticed a padlock icon next to a website address in your browser, that padlock means the site has an SSL certificate. Websites without SSL show a “Not Secure” warning — a red flag for visitors and a confirmed negative signal for Google’s ranking algorithm.
For any Australian business with a website, SSL is not optional. It protects your customers, builds trust, and is a requirement for Google to rank your pages competitively. This guide explains exactly what SSL does, why you need it, and how to get it included free with your Australian Hosting Solutions hosting plan.
What Does SSL Actually Do to Your Website?
SSL encrypts the data that travels between your visitor’s browser and your web server. Without encryption, that data — including form submissions, passwords, and payment details — travels as plain text that can be intercepted by anyone monitoring the network.
With SSL installed, that data is scrambled into an unreadable format during transmission and can only be decrypted by the intended recipient. This is why HTTPS (HTTP Secure) replaces HTTP in your website address once SSL is active.
Why Does Google Require SSL for Australian Websites?
Since 2018, Google Chrome has marked all HTTP sites as “Not Secure” in the browser address bar. Google also confirmed SSL as a ranking factor — HTTPS sites receive a ranking boost over non-HTTPS equivalents. For Australian businesses competing in local search results, this matters directly.
Beyond rankings, Google’s own guidelines for E-E-A-T (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, Trustworthiness) treat SSL as a basic trust signal. A site without it sends an immediate negative trust message.
What Are the Different Types of SSL Certificates?
| Type | What It Validates | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Domain Validation (DV) | Confirms you own the domain | Most business websites — fast, free, effective |
| Organisation Validation (OV) | Confirms domain ownership and business identity | Larger businesses, corporate websites |
| Extended Validation (EV) | Full legal entity verification, shows company name | Banks, financial institutions, enterprise eCommerce |
For most Australian small and medium businesses, a Domain Validation (DV) SSL certificate — which is included free with all Australian Hosting Solutions hosting plans — provides full encryption and the padlock icon with no additional cost.
What Happens to Your Website If You Don’t Have SSL?
- Chrome and Firefox show “Not Secure” in the address bar — visible to every visitor before they even read your content
- Google penalises your rankings — HTTPS is a confirmed ranking signal; HTTP sites rank below equivalent HTTPS competitors
- Form submissions and logins are unencrypted — customer data entered on your site is transmitted as plain text
- eCommerce is impossible — payment gateways (Stripe, PayPal) will not process transactions on non-HTTPS pages
- Trust signals are destroyed — studies consistently show that the “Not Secure” warning causes significant visitor drop-off rates
How Do You Install SSL on Your Australian Website?
With Australian Hosting Solutions, SSL is installed automatically when your hosting account is activated. You do not need to do anything — the free SSL certificate is provisioned and applied to your domain within minutes of sign-up.
If you are installing SSL on an existing cPanel account:
- Log in to cPanel and go to SSL/TLS under the Security section
- Click Manage SSL Sites
- Select your domain and click Autofill by Domain to populate the certificate fields
- Click Install Certificate
- Verify HTTPS is working by visiting your domain with https:// in the address bar
If your SSL is not installing correctly or your site still shows “Not Secure” after installation, call (02) 9199 8787 and we will fix it on the phone.
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View Hosting PlansFrequently Asked Questions About SSL in Australia
Is SSL free with Australian Hosting Solutions?
Yes. Every hosting plan at Australian Hosting Solutions includes a free SSL certificate that is installed automatically. There is no annual SSL fee.
Does SSL affect my Google rankings in Australia?
Yes. Google confirmed HTTPS as a ranking signal in 2014 and has strengthened its weighting since. Sites without SSL rank below HTTPS equivalents in Australian search results.
My SSL is installed but my site still shows “Not Secure” — why?
This is usually a “mixed content” issue — some resources on your page (images, scripts, stylesheets) are still loading over HTTP. In WordPress, a plugin like Really Simple SSL will fix this automatically. Call us on (02) 9199 8787 if you need help.
How long does an SSL certificate last?
Modern SSL certificates are issued for 90 days and auto-renew automatically. With Australian Hosting Solutions, renewal is handled entirely by our system — you never need to manually renew your SSL.
Do I need SSL if my website does not take payments?
Yes. SSL is required regardless of whether you process payments. Google marks all HTTP sites as “Not Secure” and the ranking penalty applies to all websites, not just eCommerce sites.