This post may contain affiliate links. Without any extra cost to you, we earn from qualifying purchases, if you buy something through one of those links. By clicking on the affiliate links, you automatically agree to our terms and conditions.
You may be wondering what the benefits of securing your website with HTTPS are and want to know what the acronyms HTTP and HTTPS imply. Many of us have been seeing either of these at the beginning of web URLs without considering their significance. URLs (or web addresses) that commence with HTTPS are better for specific reasons.
We consider it essential to explain the fundamental differences between HTTP and HTTPS. You will learn the benefits of securing your website with HTTPS. After reading this piece, you will consider moving your site from HTTP to HTTPS.
Focus of HTTP
The term HTTP is an acronym that stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. This is the protocol used for the exchange of data between the server of a hosting company and a browser.
For example, each time you input something on the address or search bar of any particular browser, the HTTP will interact with the server and present the information you see on your browser.
One primary concern about HTTP is that it does not care about how data move between the servers and the browsers. It sends data as plain text and provides no guard during the data transmission.
Consequently, hackers can intercept and tamper with the information you send over HTTP. Sensitive information such as credit cards and passwords can be accessed when it travels as plain text on the web.
Focus of HTTPS
Duke Vukadinovic of GlobalSign describes HTTPS as a “younger cousin” of HTTP in that HTTPS is an enhanced version of the hypertext transfer protocol. HTTPS improves how information is exchanged between servers and browsers by adding security that encrypts the information exchanged on the web.
The abbreviation “HTTPS” stands for hypertext transfer protocol secure. HTTPS has to do with SSL and TLS. The term TLS (Transport Layer Security), formerly known as SSL (Secure Socket Layer), is the security technology that enforces encryption and protection of your information on the web.
In other words, HTTPS creates a secure connection for web transactions. It also establishes trust with secured servers. Websites beginning with HTTPS use TLS/SSL certificates.
In the words of Brian Jackson, HTTPS uses a public key which is then encrypted on the recipient side. The public key is deployed on the server and included in what you know as an SSL certificate. The certificates are cryptographically signed by a Certificate Authority (CA), and each browser has a list of CAs it implicitly trusts.
How do you know that a website has an SSL certificate? You will have to look for a small padlock on the address bar at the beginning of the web address. This will confirm that the site is secured with SSL and that the protocol is HTTPS.
Benefits of a website with HTTPS
AS pointed out above, HTTPS encrypts information on the web in a coded form and transports it safely using SSL/TLS. There are reasons why you want to ensure you secure your website with HTTPS using an SSL certificate.
1. Enhance security
The most crucial benefit of securing your website with HTTPS is that HTTPS advances HTTP features by adding a layer of security. HTTPS ensures the security of information on the web by using the encryption provided by SSL.
There is also an additional layer of security for transmitting the information over TLS technology. TLS prevents tampering with information or data during transmission. In other words, HTTPS transmits your data securely and connects only to authenticated servers.
2. HTTPS is important for a mobile-friendliness
Mobile-friendliness is one factor that gets your website to rank on the search engine. It is also a precondition that your website must have HTTPS for you to be able to create accelerated mobile pages (AMP). Google created AMP to give users of mobile devices a better experience. In effect, the AMP enhances faster content loading into mobile devices and works with secured HTTPS sites.
3. Websites with HTTPS enhance users trust
Seeing the secured sign or HTTPS on your website makes users or visitors trust your website. This will bring more visitors to do transactions on your website. It is one of the benefits of securing a website with HTTPS that you have to consider.
Visitors who usually carry out online transactions are concerned about the level of security. Once they establish that your website transmits information over HTTPS, you dispel their fear over data compromise, safety, and data privacy. Consequently, you can have more visitors to your website and improve your SEO ranking.
4. HTTPS is important for Financial Transactions.
Websites that are taking payments or collecting sensitive information need the security of HTTPS. Nobody will want to submit payment information on any website if it is not secured with SSL. On a general level, HTTPS will not allow security issues that will lead to stealing users’ information. Therefore, eCommerce and banking websites always use HTTPS to prevent exposing their customers’ information to a third party.
5. Scoring parameter for SEO.
Google is concerned about the safety of the users on their browser and has been encouraging the transfer of websites from HTTP to HTTPS. They have also made HTTPS a scoring parameter for SEO to achieve this. Websites without HTTPS are marked as “Not Secure” on browsers to discourage visitors from going to such sites and enforce HTTPS use. So securing your website with HTTPS also adds ranking to your SEO.
Conclusion
Now that you know the benefits of using HTTPS, you need to consider seriously using it on your website. If not for anything, HTTPS will prevent information compromise on your website, irrespective of whether it is an eCommerce website or not. The necessary step is to obtain an SSL certificate and then install that on your website to have HTTPS.
Many hosting companies offer SSL certificates free for the first year and provide documentation on installing them. At the expiration of your one-year free SSL certificate, you need to purchase one from here to keep your website secure.
If you require further assistance, don’t hesitate to contact us.
