NEWS

In today’s digital world, where online security and confidentiality are increasingly important, an SSL certificate has become an essential technology for any website. But what exactly is an SSL certificate, and how does it affect a website’s SEO? In this article, we take a closer look at these questions.

What is an SSL certificate?

An SSL certificate, or “Secure Sockets Layer” certificate, is a digital certificate used to encrypt data sent between a Web server and a Web browser. When a Web site has an SSL certificate, the HTTP connection changes to an HTTPS connection, where the “S” stands for “secure.” This encryption ensures that sensitive information, such as passwords, credit card numbers and personal information, cannot be intercepted by malicious parties.

SSL certificates are issued by trusted certificate authorities (CAs) and can have different levels of validation, such as domain validation (DV), organization validation (OV), and extended validation (EV). The higher the validation level, the more trust the certificate provides to a Web site’s visitors. This trust is crucial, especially for websites that process sensitive data.

Why is an SSL certificate important for SEO?

Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is the process of optimizing a website to rank higher in search engines such as Google. An SSL certificate plays an important role in this process for several reasons:

1. Increased search engine ranking: Google announced in 2014 that HTTPS has become a ranking factor. This means that websites with an SSL certificate are given slight preference over those without. Although the impact of an SSL certificate on SEO rankings may be small compared to other factors such as content quality and backlinks, it can still help your website rank above those of competitors without a certificate.
2. Better user experience: Users feel more secure when they see an HTTPS connection because it indicates that the website is secure. This trust can lead to a lower bounce rate (the percentage of visitors who leave the website quickly), which in turn contributes positively to a website’s SEO score.
3. Preventing ‘not secure’ warnings: Browsers such as Google Chrome mark websites without an SSL certificate as “not secure. This can deter users and cause them to quickly leave your website. A high bounce rate can be detrimental to SEO because it signals search engines that the website may not be relevant or trustworthy.
4. Better security: An SSL certificate protects your visitors’ data and helps prevent man-in-the-middle attacks, in which malicious parties attempt to intercept data sent over an HTTP connection. Security incidents can not only lead to reputational damage but can also have a direct negative impact on your website’s SEO score.

Impact of an SSL certificate on HTTP connections

As mentioned earlier, an SSL certificate changes an HTTP connection to an HTTPS connection. This change provides a more secure data transfer between the server and the browser. But what are the immediate benefits of this security?

First, an HTTPS connection ensures that data being transmitted, such as login credentials and payment information, remains secure. This is essential for e-commerce websites and other platforms that process personal information. In contrast, an HTTP connection does not offer any form of encryption, meaning sensitive data can be more easily intercepted.

In addition, an SSL certificate helps increase the credibility of your Web site. Websites with an HTTP connection may be considered less trustworthy by search engines, resulting in a lower ranking. This can lead to a loss of traffic and potential customers.

An SSL certificate is more than just a security measure; it is an important element of an effective SEO strategy. It provides better security for users, prevents browsers from marking your website as insecure, and can even boost your search engine rankings. Migrating from an HTTP connection to an HTTPS connection by installing an SSL certificate is a small but crucial step that can have a big impact on both the security and visibility of your website. More tips on how to technically optimize your website? Discover our full checklist.