Switching a WordPress site to HTTPS is now more than necessary if you want to acquire new internet users and gain their trust by offering them a secure platform.
But why is it necessary to switch WordPress to HTTPS?
What does this term truly mean?
The WordPress Maintenance WP agency gives you all the answers to these questions!
What is HTTPS?
You've probably already experienced browsing a website that might be a bit outdated, or run by amateurs, and your browser warned you that your connection wasn't secure and that you were potentially at risk of data theft by hackers. That's a site that doesn't use HTTPS. HTTPS, or Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure, is a security protocol designed to encrypt the information exchanged with a website.
While this protocol isn't always necessary on a blog or news site, it becomes essential whenever data is entered on the site. This could be standard information used to create a profile, for example, which involves providing personal data. However, switching to HTTPS is particularly important for online stores, as payment data is sensitive and must be well protected.
Switching a WordPress site to https will therefore allow you to add different levels of security, such as data encryption, or the process of verifying the validity of the website.
An HTTPS site can be easily recognized by the small padlock appearing in the address bar, allowing the user to ensure that the site they are browsing is secure.
Why switch a WordPress site to HTTPS?
When you create a website using WordPress, it will not be HTTPS by default.
Indeed, WordPress allows you to create different types of websites, and opting for a more secure protocol won't necessarily make sense from the start. Therefore, you can choose to switch a WordPress site to HTTPS when setting it up. creationbut also after it goes live. So, when you're welcoming more and more visitors, want to offer them a personal space, or want to focus on online sales, switching to https will be preferable to secure the data.
Beyond all that, switching a WordPress site to HTTPS also fosters trust with users, who need to know that the site they are browsing cares about the security of its users' data. A browser blocking the connection, informing users that it is not secure, can be fatal for the entire business and create a very negative image for the company.
Moreover, Google tends to penalize websites that have not yet switched to HTTPS, in order to favor the display of more secure sites in its results.
Switching your WordPress site to HTTPS will also allow you tooptimize your SEO.
How do I switch to HTTPS?
Switching a WordPress site to HTTPS requires fairly advanced technical skills, and if you don't feel up to it, it's best to entrust this task to a professional in the field.
Indeed, several steps must be followed, as you either need to migrate your existing website or create a new one to switch WordPress to HTTPS. You will then need to begin by purchasing an SSL certificate from your domain name registrar or another provider, depending on the service you choose. This certificate will enable HTTPS on your server. Next, you will need to configure your settings. WordPress hosting.
You will also need to verify that the site's links are in relative format and not URLs, so that they remain readable after the migration. You will also need to remove mixed content, implement 301 redirects, add a canonical HTTPS URL to simplify the migration to Google, verify that the SSL certificate is active, and much more!
This is therefore a long and tedious process, requiring highly technical skills. Switching a WordPress site to HTTPS leaves no room for error; if a step is forgotten or performed incorrectly, the entire website can cease to function.
Furthermore, attempting this type of manipulation without knowing what you're doing can be extremely time-consuming, and the website will remain inaccessible for the entire duration of the process. In short, entrusting this task to a professional, and preferably the creator of your website, is often the best option.
