In today’s digital age, protecting your website and its visitors’ sensitive information is more important than ever. One crucial aspect of website security is the use of HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. But why is HTTPS so important, and what exactly does it do?

What is Security Protocol?

HTTPS is a security protocol that encrypts all communication between a website and its users. This means that any sensitive information, such as login credentials and credit card details, is converted into unreadable code that can only be deciphered by the intended recipient.

Without HTTPS, this information would be vulnerable to hackers and other malicious actors who could intercept and steal it.

More than Security

In addition to protecting visitors’ personal information, HTTPS also ensures that the website they are visiting is the legitimate one.

With the use of a secure certificate, HTTPS confirms that the website is owned by the organization it claims to be and not an imposter site.

But HTTPS is not only important for e-commerce or financial websites, but for any website that handles sensitive information or login credentials. Of course, it is  mandatory to procure a secure HTTPS certificate before you could install any Payment Gateway but even otherwise the importance of HTTPS cannot be undermined.

Not only does using HTTPS protect your visitors, but it can also have a positive impact on your website’s search engine rankings.

Google Recommends

Google, the world’s biggest search engine has stated that HTTPS is a ranking signal, so using it can improve your website’s visibility and drive more traffic to your site.

Ignoring HTTPS could cost you more in a variety of ways. First and foremost, HTTPS provides a secure connection between a website and its users by encrypting the data being transmitted. This is important because it protects sensitive information, such as personal data and financial information, from being intercepted by hackers.

Secondly, Google has announced that HTTPS is a ranking signal, which means that it will be used to determine the search engine ranking of a website. Websites that use HTTPS may have a slight advantage over those that do not, which could result in a higher search engine ranking and increased visibility.

Thirdly, many modern browsers now indicate whether a website is secure or not, and a website that doesn’t use HTTPS may be flagged as insecure. This could discourage visitors from engaging with your website or submitting sensitive information.

Social Media And Gateways

Lastly, many platforms and tools like social media, payment gateways, and analytics services require HTTPS to work. Without it, your website may not be able to use these features, which could limit its functionality and effectiveness.

In summary, using HTTPS provides a secure connection, improves search engine ranking, enhances user trust, and enables more features to be used on your website. Ignoring HTTPS could cost you more in terms of lost revenue, lost customers, and reduced visibility.

Moreover, now web browsers like Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox, they are showing “Not Secure” warning message in the address bar for the non-HTTPS websites. This warning can discourage visitors from entering personal information or completing a purchase on your website, resulting in lost business and a damaged reputation.

Ignoring HTTPS can cost you more than just your security; it can also harm your search engine rankings and drive away potential customers. Keep your website and your visitors safe by implementing HTTPS today.