Why Small Businesses in the South West Must Keep Their Websites Secure

If you run a small business in the South West, your website is often the very first impression customers have of you. Whether people are checking your services, making a booking, or browsing your products, they expect your site to be safe and trustworthy.

That’s where website security certificates come in. You might not know them by name, but you’ll recognise the little padlock symbol in your browser. This shows visitors that your website is secure and their information is protected. Without it, customers may think twice about engaging with your business online.

What’s Changing?

In the coming years, the rules around security certificates are set to change. Instead of lasting for over a year, certificates will soon need to be renewed every few weeks. For small businesses that don’t actively monitor this, the risk of your certificate expiring increases significantly.

If your certificate does expire, your website could:

• Display a prominent “Not Secure” warning to visitors

• Drop in Google search rankings

• Put off potential customers who may never return

In short, an expired certificate could damage your reputation overnight.

Why This Matters to Your Business

• Customer Trust – If visitors see a warning, they’re unlikely to stay on your site.

• Lost Sales – Even a short period of downtime could mean missed bookings, enquiries, or online purchases.

• Professional Image – A secure website reassures customers that you take their safety seriously. An insecure site does the opposite.

Think of it like this: would you walk into a shop with a broken lock on the door?

What You Can Do

The good news is that protecting your website is simple—you don’t need to be a tech expert:

• Check the padlock – Make sure your website shows the padlock in the browser. If it doesn’t, speak to your web developer or hosting company.

• Ask about automatic renewal – Many providers now offer certificates that update automatically in the background.

• Don’t ignore reminders – If you get an email about your certificate, don’t delete it. Pass it to whoever manages your site immediately.

Final Thought

Keeping your website secure isn’t just about technology—it’s about protecting your reputation, customers, and bottom line. A secure site builds trust and confidence, while an insecure one can undo years of hard work.

If you’re unsure whether your website is properly protected, the CyberPATH First Step Web Assessment offers an affordable, straightforward way to check. It identifies common risks—like expired security certificates—and gives you a clear, jargon-free report with next steps any business owner can understand.

You can find out more here: CyberPATH First Step Web Assessment