Having a secure medical website today is a priority for us and for all our users. The fact of improving security in our medical website is something that will improve not only the perception and confidence of users but also improve Google’s. In this article, we explain why.
In the process of designing a Web for the health sector, we must take into account many security points, such as:
1. The choice of a secure server to host the Web
2. Antivirus programs
3. Anti-spam filters
4. Secure access passwords
5. Application of updates
6. Perform regular backups, etc.
One of the latest security measures that have become essential in our medical website is the use of an SSL certificate (https for the trust of our users)
What is an SSL certificate?
SSL is the acronym for Secure Sockets Layer and is a security layer that we implement in the communications that are made on our medical website. It is a technology to keep the Internet connection safe and protect any information and communication made by our users on the Web. The fundamental objective is to prevent potential criminals from reading, stealing or modifying any data that is transferred from our website.
This is essential when the communication includes any type of personal information such as a telephone or email. In the health sector, in cases where sensitive information communications such as health data are produced, ensuring that communications are secure is not only something that affects trust but also has important legal repercussions in the case of theft of data.
An SSL certificate on our server encrypts any communication and this ensures that all data that is transferred between users and websites is impossible to read. Encryption uses complex algorithms to encode the data that is transmitted and prevent hackers from reading it.
What Is The HTTPS of a Secure Medical Website?
HTTPS (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure) is a secure hypertext transfer protocol. It is what appears in the address bar (URL) of our medical website if it is protected by an SSL certificate.
The SSL certificate is installed on the server but is displayed visually in the browser. In this way, users know that their data is protected in the case of communicating them through the Web. Users will see https:// at the beginning of the secure medical web address instead of http:// that previously appeared. That additional “s” means that the site is SAFE.
Google Bets On SSL
For a while, Google has opted to use SSL certificate and https throughout the Network. Currently, Google rewards secure websites by improving its position in its search ranking is one of the most important factors has gained in recent times. This is in itself a good reason to install the SSL certificate in our secure medical website.
In Medical Marketing, we offer web hosting to all our clients when designing their Medical Web and we include the SSL certificate for free. This is an additional advantage since the vast majority of hosting companies charge an additional amount annually for offering this service.
How Does The SSL Certificate Work In Our Medical Website?
Broadly speaking, we can say that when an SSL certificate is installed on the server where we have our Web-hosted when a user accesses it, the browser connects to it. At that moment the SSL protocol is activated which will encrypt the information that is sent between the server and the browser.
In case a hacker wants to attack our Medical Web (or the whole server) it will only be able to see the port and the IP address and may be able to drop the connection, but it can not be done with any data of those that have been communicated. through the Web because this information will be encrypted and will not be useful.
Should I Use SSL If I Only Exchange Information Through Forms?
As we have said before, the fact that Google prioritizes web pages that have an SSL certificate installed on their server is enough reason in our opinion to use it.
Some owners of Medical Webs may think that personal or health information is not exchanged on their website. In this sense, it must be said that practically all Web pages have a contact form as a means to offer their users to contact them (apart from the contact telephone or an email). Well, these forms usually ask for personal data such as name, phone, and email, data that are very juicy for companies that are dedicated to collecting data to then communicate with these people (SPAM) or simply sell that data to third parties.
Therefore it is important to have the SSL certificate in this case.
What Are The Implications Of SSL On The User?
The implications on the users are several when using the SSL certificate. The first is the one we have been highlighting and it is “the security that the user does not see”, that is, the one that makes their data protected and encrypted.
The second is the confidence indicated by the visual image of the browser with the green padlock in the address bar. This indicator provides greater confidence to customers knowing that their connection is secure and therefore we will increase the image of trust that every Web of the health sector must transmit because the potential patient/client seeks maximum confidence in all senses before to contact a health professional or clinic.
