SSL vs Website Security: What’s the Difference?
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SSL and website security are often sold beside each other, which makes them easy to confuse. They are not the same service.
SSL protects the connection
An SSL certificate enables HTTPS and helps encrypt information exchanged between a visitor’s browser and the website. Think of it as protecting information while it travels between the visitor and the site.
See the KelTech SSL Certificate.
Website security looks for threats on the site
Website security can add active protections such as malware scanning. That addresses a different problem: checking the website itself for threats rather than only encrypting the connection to it.
See Website Security — Daily Malware Scanning.
Do you need both?
They can complement each other because they solve different problems. Whether you need both depends on what your hosting platform already provides and the level of protection your website requires.
A simple way to remember it
- SSL: protects data in transit and enables HTTPS.
- Website security: checks the website for threats such as malware, depending on the plan.
Before buying anything, check what is already included with your hosting or website platform so you do not pay twice for the same feature.