SSL is the cryptographic protocol used to authenticate and encrypt communications over a network. Digital certificates, like the ones on websites, are the core of SSL. They initiate and maintain secure connections between servers and clients.Do you need an SSL certificate? An SSL certificate provides protection against phishing and eavesdropping attempts. It offers automatic authentication of a website. This means that any sensitive information is encrypted during transmission. Without SSL certification, users will not trust the site to handle private data with care.