{"id":549,"date":"2017-09-01T14:42:00","date_gmt":"2017-09-01T18:42:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dev.ironmarkusa.com\/why-your-website-needs-https-ssl-tls\/"},"modified":"2025-08-29T15:30:58","modified_gmt":"2025-08-29T19:30:58","slug":"why-your-website-needs-https-ssl-tls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ironmarkusa.com\/why-your-website-needs-https-ssl-tls\/","title":{"rendered":"Why your website needs HTTPS & SSL\/TLS"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

If you\u2019re reading this, it\u2019s very likely your website hasn\u2019t been converted from HTTP to HTTPS. It\u2019s cool, I\u2019m not here to judge \u2013 life gets in the way. But here\u2019s the deal: HTTPS is now a must. What was once optional has become a not-so subtle mandate from Google itself (yes, that Google). It\u2019s time to hurry up and get with the program already.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Backstory<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s rewind the clock. For years Google has championed a safe, protected and private online experience for everyone, regardless of the website visited, its contents or the user accessing it. This has always been a hot-button topic among we techies, but largely ignored by those outside of the web development community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So Google upped the ante and pushed all-in: the security of a website (or lack thereof) became a search ranking factor in their algorithm. No more theoretical discussion or debate \u2013 it\u2019s real. Secure websites, those with a designation of HTTPS, display higher on a SERP (Search Engine Result Page) than their non-secure HTTP competitors \u2013 end of story. We now have your attention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What Is HTTPS?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In the simplest terms, Hyper Text Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is how information is exchanged and transferred over the web. HTTPS is the protected version of HTTP \u2013 the \u201cS\u201d stands for \u201cSecure.\u201d Just think of it as Superman (or Supergirl), here to ensure the integrity of a users\u2019 interaction with your website. Aside from the website address beginning with \u201chttps:\/\/\u201d, you can easily identify a secure site by the padlock icon in the browser\u2019s address bar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its big brother TLS (Transport Layer Security) are the technologies that make it all work. In short, SSL\/TLS provides a protective layer that secures the connection between a web browser and a web server. By scrambling the signal (so to speak), and encrypting the data exchange, SSL\/TLS security ensures all information is transmitted securely. Without this protection, the web pages you visit and the data that\u2019s being shared back and forth are wide open to those savvy enough to capture it. Yikes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Evolve or Perish<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

For obvious reasons, SSL\/TLS has long been the standard for financial institutions, web commerce and any site that collects sensitive information, such as social security numbers. Think about it: you wouldn\u2019t input your credit card information into an unsecured website any more than you would leave your car keys in the ignition overnight. Online banking and shopping wouldn\u2019t exist without encryption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Related: A Simple HTML Guide DIY Basics<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But why stop there? As the web continues to evolve, enhanced data integrity and web visitor privacy has become a major focal point of the conversation. The medium is rapidly evolving into an environment where all website interactions are secure. The responsibility falls on business owners and their web partners to make certain their playing by these new rules.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To help speed the movement, Google\u2019s Chrome web browser has started to label websites without data security as \u201cnot safe.\u201d All the other major browsers \u2013 Firefox, Safari, Internet Explorer, and even the new Microsoft Edge \u2013 are quickly following suit. The idea is to give the user all the information they need to make an informed decision before they interact with a website. Perception is reality; do you want your business to be viewed as unsafe by your web visitors? Of course not.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"HTTPS<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

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Marc Bruxelle\/Shutterstock.com<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Benefits<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Aside from avoiding the cruelty of public shaming, here are several key advantages to HTTPS:<\/p>\n\n\n\n