In today’s digitally connected world, millions of online transactions happen every day. A Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) has been very instrumental in securing consumer data in these transactions. Though very few may understand SSL security feature, but it is necessary to understand the difference between HTTPS vs HTTP.
The padlock icon and the websites that begin with https (instead of http), have become synonymous with secure websites. A lock icon on a website is a validation that the customer data is safe from fraudulent activities. Thus, it has been providing the security that enables organizations to offer a trusted environment to its customers.
Not just customer data, but SSL have been protecting business-critical information such as intellectual property and employee data. So much is the need that, regulatory authorities like the Payment Card Industry (PCI) have made it mandatory to have an SSL certificate.
Before you delve deeper into this let us understand few things first;
Difference between HTTP vs HTTPS
Performance impact of http vs. https
| HTTPS | HTTP |
| Encryption Layer enabled | No encryption layer |
| Data protection | No protection from attackers |
| Ranking Boost with Google | No ranking boost |
| Protection against Phishing | Easy to replicate and thus vulnerable to phishing |
| Leveraged to gain customer trust | Website safety cannot be leveraged |
| Payments Card Industry Compliance | Non-compliance with Payments Card Industry regulation |
| Maybe slower to load only in the initial phases | Faster site to load |
| Needs Testing after conversion to HTTPS | No testing time and cost |
| Certification and Validation have costs associated with them | No certification / validation cost |
| Post validation redirection needed as a one-time activity | No redirections or relinking required |
| Chrome user friendly | Chrome users get a notification about “unsecured site” |
Google as well as CAB forum has been spreading the circulars for securing your URLs with HTTPS. As you already know that HTTP websites are not safe and could be a easy penetration for MITM attackers.
Following are the benefits of using HTTPS
Also read: If you are business owner then read why your website need SSL certificate security
Browsers are our way to access any website. SSL certificate are governed by respective SSL brands (CAs), and every browser has to verify the security of the website. Browser decode every request that passes from client to server to understand the underlying security.
A website running on HTTPS may see a negligible performance impact when accessed.
The entire process of SS handshake happens in a fraction of a second. This is how a browser understand the security of a URL. The various steps are involved in this handshake and it comprises of SSL certificate chain process.
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