When running a website, it’s extremely important to make security the utmost priority. Ensuring secure access for your users requires adding several layers of safety to your website, and as of this year, Google recognizes resources that aren’t sufficiently protected, displaying warnings to users and deferring them from proceeding.

Ideally, you should consider choosing HTTPS instead of HTTP. In a nutshell, the advantage of HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, is an addition of a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certificate that encrypts the data that you and the receiver share. Basically, the SSL Certificate initiates a code that protects the information from being accessed by anyone but the recipient and the receiver. If anyone else attempts to interfere, the information will appear completely scrambled. This is great for both general viewing safety and protecting sensitive data, such as credit card numbers and passwords.

As mentioned above, from now on Google is going to flag any connections that aren’t protected by HTTPS as potentially insecure, which may harm your website’s visibility. Even though other browsers aren’t currently displaying anything prominent for the sites that aren’t protected by HTTPS, there are no guarantees this won’t change in the nearest future. However, each browser does display a padlock for HTTPS-protected sites, indicating extra security.

When it comes to mobile sites, there are currently no measures in place for online browsing, and it remains unclear when will such updates roll out. Android, however, does take HTTPS into account when determining quality scores for ads, which may translate into additional revenue if you’re using those.
Aside from security issues, it is useful to know that using HTTPS increases Google ranking, potentially bringing more web visitors on your page.

All in all, there is no reason not to switch to HTTPS today – so get the ball rolling  and acquire your SSL certificate ASAP! And when you are ready to get a new website design then contact us here at Godwin Digital.