Why Free SSL Certificates and DNSSEC Are a Must-Have for Modern Hosting

Have you come across the strange "Not Secure" message on a website? Well, it is significant. One day I saw that message on a client site, and it hit me hard — the days of thinking about SSL and DNSSEC as something I should have are officially done, they are mandatory.

What Is Free SSL and Why Is It Important​

Let’s keep it simple — SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protects the data on your website. If you do not have it, hackers can read or steal the information sent from your website to a visitor. This is called a “man-in-the-middle" attack, which is as bad as it sounds.

It is commonplace for most web hosts to now provide free SSL certificates through software called Let’s Encrypt. Why is that important? Because

• Google ranks HTTPS sites higher on search engines.
• Customers trust secure websites.
• A non-secure (HTTP) site will quickly lose customers.

Just remember, SSL is like the lock on the front door of your website - you don't leave the front door of your home unlocked, do you?

What DNSSEC Does, and Why It Is Important​

Now we'll examine the DNSSEC (Domain Name System Security Extensions). It is essentially ID for your website. Without it, hackers can merely pull off going to fake sites.

Basically, DNSSEC does three things. It:

• Confirms DNS records are from its original source.
• Prevents fake redirecting of users (DNS spoofing).
• Uses digital signatures to verify records.

If SSL is on device security for your website, DNSSEC ensures that users go to the real one. Together they secure your website that much more.

Why Hosting Companies Need to Provide Both​

Let’s keep it real, you aren’t going to build any hosting company that does not have free SSL and DNSSEC built in, in 2025. Internet users want their experience to feel secure and search engines will want those secure sites too.

These days, most respectable web hosts provide both free of charge. There’s no excuse to not use it. Both features are also customer validation elements that tell users you care about security and trust, which leads to professionalism.

The Conclusion​

If your website has neither SSL nor DNSSEC, you are potentially exposing yourself to a risk that is avoidable. The time has passed when security was optional. It is now a prerequisite service.

Therefore, if you are deliberating on a plan that is right for you, just ask yourself, does it provide free SSL and DNSSEC? If it does not, move on to a plan that does.

At this point in time, a secure website is not extra; it is a prerequisite for operation.