You may have heard the term “HTTPS” being thrown around a lot lately. But what does it mean, and more importantly, does it matter to you? As a website and business owner, you need to stay on top of all the latest technological trends. Don’t worry, we have everything you need in this guide.
What is HTTPS?
HTTPS is short for Hyper Text Transfer Protocol Secure. It’s the latest security protocol that encrypts data being transferred between your website and your visitors’ web browsers. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to intercept and steal sensitive information like credit card numbers and login credentials.
How does it work? HTTPS uses a system of public and private key encryption. When someone visits your website, their browser will request a copy of your site’s public key. Once it has this key, it can then encrypt any data that it sends to your website. Only your website will be able to decrypt this data, thanks to the private key that only your server has access to.
Benefits of HTTPS
So, does this mean that you should switch your website to HTTPS? For most sites, the answer is yes. There are a few key benefits of using HTTPS:
Security: As we’ve just discussed, the main benefit of using HTTPS is that it adds an extra layer of security to your website. This is important not only for protecting your own site and data but also for protecting your users’ data. Today, security breaches are becoming more and more common, and it’s important to do everything you can to protect your site and your users.
If a breach were to happen, you should be able to say to all clients, with a clear conscience, that you did everything in your power to keep their data safe. Without HTTPS, you can’t make that claim.
Improved SEO: Google has stated publicly that they give preference in search results to sites that use SSL/HTTPS. So, not only is it good for security, but it’s also good for your site’s visibility. If you’re not using SSL/HTTPS, you’re at a disadvantage.
While on this topic, an SSL certificate is not the same as an SSL/HTTPS connection. An SSL certificate is just a file that’s installed on your server and enables you to use the SSL/HTTPS protocol. So, you need both an SSL certificate and to enable the SSL/HTTPS protocol to have a fully secure site.
Privacy: Another benefit of using HTTPS is that it helps keep your visitors’ information private. When you use SSL/HTTPS, the connection between your server and your visitors’ browsers is encrypted. This means that anyone trying to eavesdrop on the connection will not be able to see what is being transmitted. These days, privacy means everything to consumers, and HTTPS increases protection for all visitors.
Summary
In summary, HTTPS is a protocol that helps keep information secure and private on the internet. It is important to have both an SSL certificate and to enable the SSL/HTTPS protocol on your website to take advantage of all the benefits it has to offer. Not only will this give you a boost in search engine performance, but it also adds a layer of protection for all your lovely customers.
Should you spend some time working on HTTPS this year? Absolutely. You can show your audience that you are keeping their best interests at heart. Not sure how to get started? No problem because you’ll find lots of instructions online or you can partner with an SEO agency for assistance across the whole strategy.
