As of 2017, All Websites Should Have an SSL Certificate

An SSL certificate enables HTTPS, creating an encrypted connection between a website and its visitors. This helps protect information such as passwords, contact details and payment data while it travels across the internet.

Why HTTPS Matters

Without HTTPS, browsers may identify a website as “Not Secure.” That warning can reduce visitor confidence, especially on pages containing forms, account logins or checkout functions.

HTTPS also helps prevent third parties from reading or altering information exchanged between a visitor and the website. A valid certificate confirms that the encrypted connection is associated with the requested domain, although it does not guarantee that the website itself is trustworthy or free from malicious content.

HTTPS and Google Search

Google has used HTTPS as a search-ranking signal since 2014. It is one factor among many, so installing a certificate does not automatically produce a major improvement in rankings. However, secure delivery supports user trust, browser compatibility and the technical quality expected of a modern website.

Moving a Website to HTTPS

• Obtain a certificate that covers every required domain and subdomain.
• Install and configure the certificate on the web server.
• Redirect each HTTP page permanently to its HTTPS equivalent.
• Update internal links, canonical URLs, sitemaps and external service settings.
• Replace insecure images, scripts and other resources to prevent mixed-content warnings.
• Confirm that the certificate renews before it expires.

After migration, test important pages and forms, verify redirects and monitor search performance for indexing problems. HTTPS should be treated as a standard security requirement rather than an optional feature.