Whilst there are a great variety of factors taken into account by Google when it comes to determining their website rankings, online security is playing a far bigger role than ever before.
Google has even gone as far as to issue the following statement:
“You should always protect all of your websites with HTTPS, even if they don’t handle sensitive communications. Aside from providing critical security and data integrity for both your websites and your users’ personal information, HTTPS is a requirement for many new browser features, particularly those required for progressive web apps.”
What Are the Benefits of HTTPS?
We’re all used to seeing ‘HTTP’ at the beginning of a URL but was about extra ‘S’? Essentially the S stands for “SSL”, which in turn stands for Secure Sockets Layer.
This extremely useful technology helps to encrypt the connection to a website, providing that extra layer of security making it more difficult for hackers to intercept important data. This can include passwords and payment details.
What does HTTPS actually do though?
- HTTPS protects the integrity of your website – HTTPS helps prevent intruders from tampering with the communications between your websites and your users’ browsers. Intruders include intentionally malicious attackers, and legitimate but intrusive companies, such as ISPs or hotels that inject ads into pages.
- HTTPS protects the privacy and security of your users – HTTPS prevents intruders from being able to passively listen to communications between your websites and your users.
If that isn’t enough, below are 2 additional reasons why increasing the security of the site could benefit your business.
Does HTTPS Offer A Generic SEO Boost?
When two similar sites have similar SEO values, the inclusion of an SSL certificate could be enough to nudge your website above your competitor.
Whilst no-one knows precisely what Google’s algorithms look for, it is widely believe that it is Google’s goal to offer the best possible user experience. Increased online safety would certainly fall under this umbrella and therefore having a secure site (HTTPS) can help you rank higher on Google.
Mobile Search Boosts
Are you serious about being found online? You can no longer ignore mobile search optimisation. Because many modern browsers and phone applications require HTTPS in order to perform correctly, failure to add this to your website could leave you lagging behind your rivals.
Contact Us
If you would like to speak to someone about increasing the security of your website, please contact Footprint Web Design on Tel. No. 01883 372488 today.
