Your website is public so people can read it—that’s its purpose. But if your site uses forms and other pages that take people’s information, you want to assure them that you are who you say you are, and that the information they put into those forms is secure.

Most sites accomplish this by purchasing a security certificate from a certification company. But more and more people are turning to cheaper options such as Let’s Encrypt, which offers free, safe and fully recognized site certificates.