Why you should redirect all HTTP traffic to HTTPS
If you’re thinking about switching to the HTTPS protocol but aren’t exactly sure how it will affect your website, this article will guide you through the process.
We will explain the difference between HTTP and HTTPS in terms of security, performance, and search engine optimization
(SEO) benefits
Also, we’ll explore how the HTTP vs HTTPS protocols transport data via the internet and the significant role of SSL
certificates.
Aside from that, we’ll discuss the pros and cons of each protocol to help you decide whether to make the switch.
Differences Between HTTP vs HTTPS
HTTP stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol. It is the protocol that enables communication between different systems,
transferring information and data over a network.
On the other hand, HTTPS stands for Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure. Although it functions similarly to HTTP, HTTPS
works to protect communication between web servers and browsers when transporting data
HTTPS secures connections with a digital security protocol that uses cryptographic keys to encrypt and validate data.
The most common way for websites to use HTTPS and have a secure domain is by obtaining a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) or
Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificate.
Keep in mind that although TLS is widely becoming the standard for HTTPS, most SSL certificates support both SSL/TLS
protocols
How HTTP Works
In practice, HTTP is an application layer protocol that web browsers and web servers use to communicate via the
internet.
When a web user wants to load or interact with a web page, their web browser sends an HTTP request to the origin server
that hosts the website’s files. These requests are essentially lines of text that are sent via the internet. A
connection is then established between the browser and server, after which the server processes the request and sends
back an HTTP response. This makes web pages accessible to site visitors.
HTTP vs HTTPS: Which One Is Better for My Site?
Technically, there is no correct answer
It all depends on the type of site you run and the data you manage. For example, a simple portfolio website and an
eCommerce site with membership features and digital payment systems have different security requirements.
However, it doesn’t matter whether your site handles sensitive information – HTTPS is becoming the standard for all
websites. Not only that, there are numerous benefits to having an SSL certificate enabled on your site.
Consider the following factors when deciding between HTTP vs HTTPS
Security
Having strong security measures and providing a secure browsing experience on your website is crucial. A GlobalSign
survey found that 77% of visitors have concerns about unauthorized parties misusing or intercepting user data.
In regards to HTTP vs HTTPS, the latter outperforms in terms of security.
A standard HTTP protocol does not encrypt connections. That means the lines of text in an HTTP request or response are
visible to anyone monitoring the connection, including cybercriminals.
Using a standard HTTP generally poses minimal issues if the text only contains general information, such as to load a
public web page.
However, if it contains sensitive data like usernames, passwords, or credit card details, using unencrypted HTTP can
pose serious security risks. Since this information is visible to anyone, data breaches, hacks, and identity theft
become serious concerns.
Users can see if they are browsing HTTP sites by checking two elements. First, the icon before a website’s URL (Uniform
Resource Locator) may show a ! symbol or say “Not secure.”
The warning may also advise users not to enter sensitive or confidential information on the website. Second, the site’s
URL will start with http://
HTTPS = HTTP + SSL
To protect potentially sensitive information from being leaked, websites use SSL certificates to create a secure
connection between web servers and browsers, protecting the transmission of HTTP requests and responses.
The use of an SSL certificate is the key difference between HTTP and HTTPS.
HTTPS encrypts the transport of data so it’s not visible to hackers or others monitoring the connection. This ensures
data integrity and prevents information from being modified, corrupted, or stolen during transmission.
SSL/TLS protocols also authenticate users to secure information and ensure it won’t be revealed to unauthorized users
Users can easily check if a website uses SSL/TLS. First, a padlock icon should be visible on the left-hand side of a
website’s URL, signifying that the connection is secure. Second, the website’s URL will start with https://.
SEO Advantages
Not only does Google recommend that all websites use HTTPS for higher security, but it also rewards these sites with a
minor ranking boost on the search engine results pages (SERPs).
In fact, a study by Rank Ranger found that by 2018, 70% of Google’s first page results were sites that use HTTPS.
Let’s consider this in practical terms. For example, a competitor’s site may be similar to yours in many aspects, such
as content, speed, and backlinks. However, the competitor site uses HTTPS while you don’t.
Add the fact that HTTPS sites receive higher browsing times, which is beneficial for SEO, and the winner is clear.
Considering Google’s algorithm, your competitor will most likely rank higher than your site, which will lead them to
receive higher traffic volumes and other SEO benefits.
Speed and Performance
Another benefit of using HTTPS compared to HTTP is that websites will load relatively faster with it, especially if used
with a server that supports HTTP/2.
HTTP/2 supports HTTPS encryption and complements its security protocols. Among other functions, HTTP/2 reduces latency
by having low resource consumption and maximizing bandwidth efficiency.
This results in faster site speeds and smoother performance compared to using the standard HTTP protocol.
HTTPS is also a better option when loading websites on mobile devices, especially when using Accelerated Mobile Pages
(AMP). AMP is a Google-made web component framework that, among other functions, creates a more streamlined user
experience for mobile users by loading the website content much faster.
A secure encrypted connection is required for a website’s AMP version to show up on search engines. Considering that by
the end of 2019, 61% of Google search queries came from mobile devices, the performance benefits of using HTTPS outweigh
HTTP