Why make your website HTTPS ASAP?

What is HTTPS?

Before knowing why HTTPS is important for your website, let us first discuss what is meant by HTTPS.

HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is the secure version of HTTP precisely.

Which means that the connection to send the files between your browser and the website you are connected to is “Secure”.

Basically a “Secured” HTTP is HTTPS. Meaning all the communications with the World Wide Web for that particular website are safe and encrypted.

HTTPS is a mandate for the website pages where some critical information like credit card details are asked of the user. However it is a good practice to add HTTPS to all the website pages.

The high level of security which HTTPS extends is due to the multi-layer protection it gives to the data transferred.

HTTPS ensures that the data which is transferred over the World Wide Web is:

Encrypted – if under minimal chances someone manages to intercept the data, then it will be of no use to them as they will not be having the key (or password) to decrypt it. Only the user will have the key.
Authentic – the user cannot be tricked into providing the crucial information to a spammer instead of the company. It is foolproof.
Credible – the data, ready for transfer cannot be corrupted. This is very important and useful for the transfer of critical information.

To activate HTTPS on your website you need to buy and install an SSL certificate on your site.

How To Migrate Your Website From HTTP To HTTPS

The first step to migrate your website from a non-secure version to a secure version is to purchase an SSL certificate.

What is SSL Certificate?

As per GoDaddy, an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate is a digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts information sent to the server using SSL technology. Encryption is the process of scrambling data into an undecipherable format that can only be returned to a readable format with the proper decryption key.

A certificate serves as an electronic “passport” that establishes an online entity’s credentials when doing business on the Web. When an Internet user attempts to send confidential information to a Web server, the user’s browser accesses the server’s digital certificate and establishes a secure connection.

An SSL certificate contains the following information:

The certificate holder’s name
The certificate’s serial number and expiration date
A copy of the certificate holder’s public key
The digital signature of the certificate-issuing authority

Where Can I buy SSL Certificate for HTTPS?

There are many websites now available from where you can buy SSL certificate. Various packages are available depending on your requirement and budget. Choose the best one, install it and you are good to go.

But it is recommended to buy it from your website’s hosting company.

Why?

The answer is simple. Convenience. Mostly all the hosting companies like GoDaddy provide SSL certificates. So you can not only buy from an already trusted company, but also ask them to install it for you. It reduces the chances of any error while installing the SSL certificate.

Undeniably, this process of installing SSL certificate is a tricky one and needs proficiency and time. Henceforth, it’s best to outsource this to an experienced and best SEO company to make it certain that your website is smoothly migrated from HTTP to HTTPS.

And now the big question.

There is no doubt to say that Google is the most favored and used search engine among the internet users worldwide. Because of which when Google implements any change in its protocol, it is seen as a noteworthy update and businesses are recommended to follow the change.

One such update from Google is regarding the secure version of HTTP i.e. HTTPS.

Google declared that from October 2017 a ‘NOT SECURE’ warning will be shown on HTTP pages where users enter their critical data. This will also be shown on the HTTP pages viewed in the Incognito mode.

This is an extended practice of Google to make internet a safe and secure place for collecting important information like credit card details or passwords. Eventually Google plans to make all the HTTP pages as non-secure to warn the users to be careful before sharing any crucial information.

Hence it is recommended to all the website owners to pay attention to the update and make your website HTTPS ASAP.

Recommended: Why did SEO Traffic Drop after Website Redesign?

Benefits of Making your website HTTPS

The basic concept of HTTPS in itself is a benefit for the internet users. But apart from that there are other benefits too of making your website HTTPS.

Benefit #1: Security of data

On a basic HTTP website the communication between the user and the website is not encrypted. Which is why the data or information by the user can suffer a breach and harm the user.

On the other hand, when you make your website HTTPS you add another level of security by adding SSL certificates. This will make sure that the data transferred between the user and the website is encrypted.

Benefit #2: Increase in Search Engine Rankings

Yes you read it right. It is one of the factors that trigger an increase in search engine rankings as per Google.

As an extension to its “HTTPS Everywhere” campaign, Google practices to index the HTTPS sites in priority over HTTP sites.

Along with your ongoing SEO practices it is imperative to make your website secure by using HTTPS label to increase the Search Engine Rankings (SERPs).

Benefit #3: Institutes User Trust

Who doesn’t like safety and security? All of us. And when it is about the important information like credit card or log in credentials then we as users become extra careful, right?

This is where HTTPS comes into use. It builds the trust in the users that the information they are sharing with the website is in safe hands.

I am only a Blog website. Do I also need to make my website HTTPS?

Now that you are aware of the benefits of making your website a secured HTTP. You might be thinking if it’s of use for your blog only website.

Well, if your website only asks for the users email address so that they can subscribe to your email newsletters. Then you may not use HTTPS for security reasons.

But the factor that it boosts SEO and ranking results still remains valid.

So if your ultimate business strategy involves SEO practices then making your website HTTPS is a good idea in the long run.

Conclusion

Considering the weight-age of the benefits of making your website an HTTPS, it is recommended to migrate from the non-secure version to the secure version asap.