Website security and SSL for Irish small businesses
If Chrome says Not secure, many visitors leave. HTTPS, working forms, and basic updates are table stakes for any Irish small business site. Own the Site Year-1 packages include hosting and security basics from €1,290. Custom work is welcome and quoted. See Pricing or book a call.
Book a call · See pricing · Signs your website is outdated
Prices in EUR. VAT is not charged. Lucro Limited is not currently VAT-registered.
What the padlock means
The padlock (HTTPS / SSL) means the connection between the visitor’s browser and your site is encrypted. It does not mean your whole business is “hack proof.” It does mean you are not greeting customers with a Not secure warning before they read a word.
For a brochure site, that warning alone is enough to kill trust. People comparing plumbers, clinics, or cafes on a phone will bounce and try the next result.
Practical checklist
Tick what is true for your site today:
- Browser shows Not secure or a certificate warning
- Contact forms fail, or go to a dead email
- WordPress or plugin update nags show on the public site
- Site is often down or very slow
- Admin login URL is easy to guess and never looked after
- You are not sure who renews hosting, SSL, or backups
Rough guide: any tick is worth fixing. Several ticks usually mean rebuild or migrate, not another weekend of patches.
What security basics include
For Own the Site Year-1 packages, security basics sit with hosting and care, not as a scare upsell:
- 01HTTPS with a valid certificate (padlock on)
- 02Hosting that is monitored, not a forgotten shared account
- 03Sensible updates so the public site is not nagging visitors
- 04Working enquiry path (forms that reach a real inbox)
- 05Backups and a clear owner for renewals
- 06Year-1 care so small issues get handled with the same studio
Package euros (design, build, hosting, and Year-1 care):
| Package | Year 1 all-in | Pages | Typical turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | €1,290 | Up to 8 | About 5 days once content is in |
| Standard | €1,590 | Up to 10 | About 5 days once content is in |
| Pro | €2,090 | Up to 15 | About 5 to 10 days once content is in |
Ecommerce, product sites, live menus, and heavier builds are welcome and custom quoted. Full grid: Pricing.
Trust is conversion
Security theatre does not win jobs. Clear trust does:
- 01Padlock on, no scary browser chrome
- 02Phone and hours that match your Google Business Profile
- 03Forms that work on mobile
- 04A site that does not look abandoned
If the site still feels like 2010 to 2014, read Signs your website is outdated. For findability, see AI search for small businesses.
Common questions
Why does Chrome say Not secure?+
Usually the site is not serving HTTPS properly, the certificate is missing or expired, or mixed content is breaking the padlock. Visitors see a warning before your offer. Fix the certificate path or move to hosting that handles SSL cleanly.
Does a simple brochure site need SSL?+
Yes. HTTPS is table stakes for any public business site, even a five page brochure. Without it you look closed or risky, and some browsers and tools treat you as less trustworthy.
Is SSL the same as full cybersecurity?+
No. SSL/HTTPS protects the connection. It does not replace strong passwords, sane admin access, backups, or updates. Own the Site covers hosting and security basics for brochure packages. Deeper cyber programmes are a different service.
Does Own the Site include security basics?+
Yes. Year-1 packages include hosting and security basics with design, build, and care. Launch €1,290, Standard €1,590, and Pro €2,090. See Pricing.
How much does a safer rebuild cost?+
Published Year-1 packages start at €1,290. That is often cheaper than another year of Not secure warnings and dead forms. Custom scope is quoted when you need more than a brochure site. See Pricing.
Should I keep patching WordPress or rebuild?+
If the theme is old, plugins fight each other, and mobile or trust already fails, a rebuild is usually cleaner than endless patches. If the bones are solid and only SSL or forms are broken, a targeted fix or migrate can be enough. Bring the URL to a call and we will say which.
Ready to fix Not secure?
Book a call with your URL ready, or see Pricing.
Related: Websites for trades in Ireland, Cafe and restaurant websites, How much does a website cost in Ireland?, DIY vs studio, Mobile websites Ireland 2026.