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Oct 6, 2022

When it comes to the security of online transactions, SSL certification, and PCI DDS as a whole, the stakes are incredibly significant for both online sellers and creators, and the way to comply can be difficult. Thankfully, the e-commerce experts at can assist. Below is a checklist for internet security for content creators, explaining how you can maintain compliance as you grow your sales online.

The importance of SSL for online sellers

In the first line of your website's URL, you'll see either "HTTP" or an "HTTPS." This final letter "s" is vital for sellers selling online, since it indicates your site is safe.

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is an online security method which encrypts the user's data when it is transferred between your server and a customer's web browser. This form of Transport Layer Security (TLS) keeps sensitive customer information protected. Without SSL, hackers could take over the data (like a customer's credit card details shared at checkout) and view it as text.

    What Happens If Your Online Store Does Not Have an SSL Certificate?

SSL certificates are necessary for online stores to operate websites, and owners of the site must renew them every two years. What happens if online sellers fail to maintain the SSL certificate?

  • Search Rankings: Search engines and browsers search engines can punish websites that are organically search without SSL certificates by making them appear lower in search rankings--meaning that your website may not be found by fewer customers. It is possible to learn more about SEO (Search engine Optimization (SEO) by taking courses within 's CreatorU.
  • Security Alerts: Your website will be labeled as not secure, and web browsers such as Google Chrome will inundate potential users with warnings to avoid visiting your site.
  • Hacking Threats If your customers get hacked by hackers, you might lose the trust of your community--and you could find yourself financially accountable.

Thankfully, the solution here is simple. If you are a partner of an e-commerce site that is secure (like ) The platform maintains SSL certificates for each one of the sales pages you have supported.

By maintaining SSL certifications, e-commerce platforms can help ensure that your website's sales remain PCI compliant, which is essential to ensure that you can sell online.

PCI DSS Compliance and E-Commerce

PCI (Payment Card Industry) DSS is a global set of data security standards for any online store that accepts payments. These standards regulate a website's security online to keep customer payment data secure. PCI standards are regularly revised to guard against new threats to security of data Your e-commerce website must adapt to new PCI DSS changes as they come out.

    What Happens If your E-Commerce Site is Not PCI Compliance?

Non-compliance to PCI DSS standards can financially destroy online sellers, especially small ones. The payment processors can begin threatening your bank with huge penalty fees (up up to six figures per month of non-compliance) that the bank will pass onto your company.

There is also the possibility of bank account closures and higher charges for transactions from processors. The smallest amount of non-compliance penalties (starting at $5k per month) can quickly bankrupt a small business.

Keeping up with online compliance standards can be stressful for all businesses. So it is simple to see why the majority of online sellers join an online platform with integrated PCI DSS conformity like .

: Sell From Your Website

    Are websites secure?

The best part is that every sales page is entirely secured and compliant. The sales pages come with built-in security features, including SSL as well as SCA, GDPR, and PCI DSS compliance.