In order for data on the Internet
to be considered secure it must be sent to a server that contains a "Digital
Key". This key performs a few functions. Two very important functions that we are
concerned with are:
1) Data encryption…
When someone comes to your Web
site and fills out an order form, the data being sent from the clients' web browser (for
example in New Jersey) where he/she entered the information, to your server (here in
beautiful Colorado) is normally sent across thousands of miles of wires and passes
through dozens of computers. That information (i.e. a credit card number) has a slight
possibility of being seen by a number of people who may decide to use that information in
a way not considered polite. When a server has a key, it has the ability to communicate
with the clients' browser and secretly rearrange the data so that it is sent across the
Internet encrypted. Therefore, it looks NOTHING like the original data being sent. Once
the server has the garbled up mess it can then rearrange the data back to normal. This
process is considered EXTREMELY SECURE.
2) Confidence….
Let's imagine you have been
spending your last few hours at work surfing the Internet (with your bosses permission of
course!) and you have finally found that piece to fix your 8 track player. So, you go to
the company's home page and follow the links to their "secure order form". Great
you think, I'll send them my credit card, it will be securely encrypted, and in just 5
short days I'll be playing my 8 tracks again. So you send the card number. So what does
this mean to you … Well, when you send your credit card to this company you can be
very sure it will not be available to anyone other than the company you intended to have
it!
Now that we have shown you the
value of having your own key, we will tell you how much it costs. Remember, you don't only
get the encryption, but also your customers get the confidence of knowing that you are who
you say you are.
Sounds like an infomercial
doesn't it!!!!!
Well, here it is:
The secure server adds either
$100.00 per year to your hosting fee if you pay your hosting fees annually. If you
opt for the monthly payment plan for hosting, then it will add $10.00 per month to your
hosting fees.
Oh by the way, you should include a thank you message like the
one below.
"Thank You for your order.
Click here to return to our homepage. Please Note: You will get a warning message that
says that you are now going to a non-secure page."
Just to let you know, some older
browsers might not accept "https" pages. So you also might want to include this
information on your order form for any of your customers that might have older browsers.
