When it comes to HTTPS vs HTTP there’s no contest. Google prefers sites that are trusted and certified. We know this.
Google Search actually began down-ranking unencrypted websites back in 2015 so this isn’t flash news.
Website security isn’t exactly one of the latest SEO trends however, it is likely to become more prominent this year.
What does this mean? It’s crunch time for websites that haven’t made the switch to HTTPS.
In fact, as of July this year (2018), Chrome will mark all HTTP sites as not secure. You can read more about it here.
HTTPS VS HTTP: What’s Wrong With HTTP?
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. HTTP has been the foundation for communication for the internet for almost eighteen years. All data, information and content sent between client and server has been sent through HTTP.
Back in 1999 when HTTP was first used, it was considered secure, there was no such thing as HTTPS vs HTTP.
These days not so much.
It is simply not as safe as it used to be. Information sent on HTTP can be accessed by hackers without an advanced layer of security. This is where HTTPS steps in.
HTTPS VS HTTP: Why is HTTPS Better Than HTTP?
HTTPS stands for Secure HyperText Transfer Protocol and is a secure version of HTTP. It was developed to allow for secure transactions. It is important that the exchanging of confidential information is secure to prevent unauthorised access.
It follows the same basic protocols as HTTP by establishing a connection to a server on a standard port. The difference? HTTPS offers an extra layer of security by using SSL to move the data.
The main benefit of using HTTPS is that it makes your website more secure for your users. It is essential for any pages that share a user’s personal details or credit card information. HTTPS will provide multiple layers of protection for any such data.
It prevents tampering by any third parties and encrypts all communication, including URLs.
Benefits of HTTPS
- Data Encryption.
- Data Integrity (data can’t be corrupted).
- Authentication
What is SSL vs HTTPS?
Not to be used interchangeably, HTTPS and SSL are two different things. HTTPS is secure because it uses SSL to move data.
HTTPS VS HTTP: HTTPS & SEO
Increased Rankings
Google has confirmed that there would be a slight ranking boost of HTTPS websites. The value of switching to HTTPS is only likely to increase over time. This means that when we look at HTTPS VS HTTP, we can see that it is a worthwhile investment to get into right now.
More Traffic
Better rankings lead to more traffic. The more users that see your website, the more visitors you will get. This is a huge benefit. A HTTPS website will signify authority and trust, making your website appealing over other, non-secure websites. What does this get you? A better click-through-rate.
HTTPS VS HTTP: How Do I change from HTTP to HTTPS?
Firstly, you will need to purchase an SSL certificate and then install this certificate on your website’s hosting account.
On the surface it may seem pretty straightforward and there are many online guides that can guide you through the process. However, if you aren’t savvy with computers let alone back end development, then you might want to employ an expert to help.
There are lots of things that could potentially go wrong with HTTPS Migration, if you don’t know what you are doing.
These things include:
- The prevention of site crawl (a failure to update the test server to allow bots. This will prevent Google from crawling the website which will be very bad for rankings.
- You could end up with both HTTPS and HTTP page versions showing. This would result in content duplication, something Google frowns upon when it comes to SEO.
- Not letting Google know you have moved your site over to HTTPS.
- Redirects not being implemented properly.
Talk To An Expert About HTTPS VS HTTP
Put it simply, ICAAL can help. We can implement HTTPS Migration on your website, ensuring your website is updated and secure. Put an end to HTTPS VS HTTP by getting in touch.
Contact us today on: 023 8033 7652.
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