HTTPS Protocol

What is HTTPS?
HTTPS (Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure) is an advanced secure internet protocol devised for web communication. It is designed to protect the integrity and confidentiality of data when surfing the internet.  Therefore, Speakol employs and advises the use of HTTPS to protect users’ connections to your landing pages or websites.

Transport Layer Security Protocol (TLS) secures all the data sent using HTTPS, providing three levels of protection:

1. Encryption: This means that while the user is browsing a website, no one can track his activity, overhear his conversations, or steal his information.
2. Data Integrity: This means that data cannot be modified or corrupted during data transfer intentionally or otherwise without being detected.
3. Authentication: This means that your users are connected to their intended website; it is a protocol that protects users and builds trust.

Why is HTTPS better for your Website’s Visitors:

1. HTTPS is the standard protocol used across the web for its high security and tremendous performance.
2. HTTPS improves SEO (Search Engine Optimization). It grants websites a higher ranking signal for search engines such as Google’s; it accelerates the loading time due to their performance enhancements.

Best practices for Implementing HTTPS:

1. Use robust security certificates:
   These certificates can verify that your website belongs to your brand or company, thus, protects your customers from man-in-the-middle attacks.

2. Use server-side 301 redirects:
   Use 301 redirects to guide your users and search engines to your HTTPS pages. It is also essential that you verify whether or not your HTTPS pages can be crawled and indexed by Google.

3. Support HSTS:
   Speakol recommends that HTTPS sites support HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security). HSTS ensures that google leads users to secure URLs; this is vital to minimize the risk of serving unsecured content to your users.