HTTPS stands for HyperText Transfer Protocol Secure. It’s the secure version of HTTP, the protocol used to send data between your website and your visitors’ browsers. That little “s” at the end—and the padlock icon you see in the address bar—means the data is encrypted.

In plain terms: HTTPS protects your website and your visitors by making sure that anything submitted—contact forms, payment details, login info—can’t be easily intercepted by hackers.

Why HTTPS matters (a lot)

Years ago, HTTPS was mainly used on ecommerce sites and login pages. Today, it’s expected for every site, no matter how small. Google, browsers, and users all treat it as the default—and punish you if you don’t have it.

Here’s why HTTPS matters for your business:

• Trust: That padlock builds confidence. No padlock? People start to wonder if your site is outdated—or unsafe.
• SEO: Google uses HTTPS as a ranking factor. No HTTPS = lower visibility.
• Browser warnings: Chrome and other browsers will show “Not Secure” warnings on non-HTTPS sites, which can scare visitors away instantly.
• Data protection: Even something as simple as a newsletter signup needs to be encrypted to protect user data.
• GDPR and legal compliance: If you’re collecting personal data (even an email address), HTTPS is part of keeping that data secure and compliant.

How it works

When someone visits your website, HTTPS encrypts the connection between their browser and your server using an SSL/TLS certificate. This keeps everything—logins, form entries, and page views—private and secure.

Instead of:

http://yourdomain.com

You get:

https://yourdomain.com

And that “s” makes all the difference.

What’s an SSL certificate?

SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It’s the digital certificate that enables HTTPS. These certificates are issued by trusted organizations and installed on your server.

There are different types of SSL certificates (single domain, wildcard, EV), but most business websites only need a basic one. Many hosts now offer free SSL certificates via Let’s Encrypt, and most managed WordPress hosts install them by default.

How to get HTTPS

If your site isn’t using HTTPS yet, don’t panic. You can fix it quickly:

• Check your hosting: Most hosts offer a free SSL option—enable it via your control panel.
• Redirect HTTP to HTTPS: Make sure all traffic is automatically routed to the secure version.
• Update internal links and resources: Images, scripts, and stylesheets must also be loaded securely to avoid “mixed content” warnings.
• Install a plugin (if needed): If you’re on WordPress, tools like Really Simple SSL can help configure things automatically.

Bottom line

HTTPS is no longer optional. It’s a signal of trust, security, and professionalism. If your website still uses plain HTTP, it’s time to update—your visitors, your SEO, and your credibility all depend on it.