You may have seen an increase in secure websites—those that have “https” instead of the simple “http” before the rest of the URL—over the last few years. As early as 2014, Google has shown preference to these secure sites in an effort to make the web a more secure place.
HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) is how information is communicated across the web. HTTPS has an extra layer of security that encrypts transactions and authorizations. HTTPS has been most common for websites and web pages that asked for credit card information or passwords. In more recent years, HTTPS has started to become the new standard for all websites. Here are some reasons your company should consider switching from HTTP to HTTPS.
Security
It might seem like HTTPS should only be used for ecommerce sites to protect against consumers’ private information getting stolen. But it can also protect when you log in to your own website, prevent your website from malicious ads and spyware, and prohibit tampering with any sort of communication between your website and a consumer’s browser.
SEO
As already mentioned, Google has shown preference to HTTPS, meaning that it can give your site an edge over a similar site vying for a spot on the coveted first page. It seems as if HTTPS is being used to break ranking ties when two sites are otherwise similar.
Credibility
There are many ways in which popular browsers can let users know whether or not a website is secure. Most use a green lock or a red open lock in the left-hand corner of of the web address box. Google’s browser Chrome not only uses a green lock to indicate security but also the word “secure” to make it apparent that the site is safe. When a site is not HTTPS, Chrome lets users know with a gray information icon in the web address box, which tells visitors that the site is not secure and that they should not input any sensitive information. 77% of website visitors, according to a European study, are concerned about their data being intercepted, so having a green padlock next to your URL can give your vistors peace of mind.
Are you interested in upgrading your site to HTTPS? Contact us today!