HTTP, or HyperText Transfer Protocol, is used to transfer information between the server and browser. However, it lacks security. Whereas HTTPS, or HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure, has an additional layer of encrypted security for your website to make the content available only to authorized people.
HTTPS is an extension of HTTP with an added higher level of security and privacy, which is the need of the hour in today’s digital age. It is best to convert your website from HTTP to HTTPS to make it secure and reliable.
You can read this blog to learn more about how to convert HTTP and HTTPS and why it’s better for security.
The Process of Converting HTTP to HTTPS
Converting from HTTP to HTTPS is necessary for all kinds of websites. Switching to HTTPS has become mandatory today. Google also considers HTTPS to be a ranking factor for search engine results, which can impact the performance of your website.
HTTPS is HTTP but with enhanced security for the secure transfer of information between your website and the user’s browser. The change to HTTPS mainly aims at the security and authentication of websites. The process of converting HTTP websites to HTTPS websites is simple and can be achieved with a few steps for an effective change.
The following is the process to convert a website from HTTP to HTTPS —
Buy an SSL Certificate
The first step to migrate your website to HTTPS is to buy an SSL certificate, which is mandatory for a HTTPS website. You can purchase an SSL certificate from your web hosting provider, and there are various hosting plans that come with a free SSL certificate for a certain period.
The SSL certificate is a digital certificate that establishes a secure and encrypted connection between your website and the user’s browser. It ensures the data and information passed is protected from cyberattacks.
Install the SSL Certificate in Your Server
The next step after you have purchased the SSL certificate is to install it for further use. You can get your web hosting provider install the certificate of SSL on your server for a seamless process.
If you have brought the certificate from a trusted third party, installing it is essential in your hosting environment for the encryption to work for your website.
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Ensure the SSL certificate is installed successfully.
Change the Website Links to HTTPS
After the SSL certificate has been installed in your web hosting server, all internal website links have to be altered and rebuilt from HTTP. Ensure that all links present on your website are converted to HTTPS for the SSL encryption to work.
In case you are using a Content Management System, the permalinks need to be changed to HTTPS. You can first convert all the links not generated by a Content Management System to HTTP and then move to the ones generated by the Content Management System.
Double-check if Internal Links Redirect to HTTPS
You need to double-check the internal website links to ensure the HTTPS change is successful when your website goes live. A combination of both HTTP and HTTPS can become confusing for users who visit your website.
Make sure to conduct a thorough check of all the internal links to confirm if they have the new HTTPS URL and not the old HTTP URL. This final check is crucial for the conversion process and to make sure the links redirect successfully to the new ones.
Set Up 301 Redirects
Setting up the 301 redirects is an important aspect of converting from HTTP to HTTPS. 301 is a status code to indicate the permanent redirection from one URL to another, and the users visiting the old URL will automatically be redirected to the new URL of your website.
The 301 redirect passes the ranking power to the redirected page and maintains the search engine rankings of your website. It notifies search engineers that the original URL has been replaced with your new one.
Test the Website
After all the necessary changes have been made to the links, it’s time to test the effectiveness of the website. This is a necessary step for a successful digital transformation — the HTTP to HTTPS conversion of your website.
You can conduct thorough testing of your website to make sure all the links are updated to HTTPS from HTTP, the redirects are working well for the effective functioning of your website, and the content is secured.
The Conversion of HTTP to HTTPS for Better Security
One of the important reasons for converting from HTTP websites to HTTPS websites is safety. The switch to HTTPS is considered safer and more reliable than using the standard HTTP for your website. It protects your website in many ways and proves its authenticity and reliability.
In recent times, cyber threats and attacks have become advanced and complicated. It is necessary to safeguard confidential information, such as passwords, credit card details, and addresses, to maintain the privacy of users and prevent unauthorized third-party intervention, theft, fraud, and various other activities cyber criminals undertake.
Online security is a concern for users, and people are cautious about visiting unauthenticated sites without an SSL certificate. In such cases, an HTTPS website fosters a sense of trust among your users, which contributes to their willingness to browse your website. They are assured that the encrypted connection keeps their private information and data safe from potential risks.
Google considers security a top priority and takes HTTPS as a ranking factor for websites in its search engine.
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HTTPS websites have the advantage of being ranked higher and attracting more traffic, thanks to the level of safety and encryption it provides to safeguard data and user privacy.
Conclusion
The process of switching from HTTP to HTTPS is crucial for your website in many ways. It can improve the performance, security, SEO ranking, and credibility of your website.
It is a mandatory step to authenticate your website for better security to protect user information. The change from HTTP to HTTPS is a sound move for your website and can pave the way for growth.
