Don’t have a Secure Sockets Layer? It could impact your search engine optimization.

Google is going to start warning searchers of the impending doom of pages that do not have a Secure Sockets Layer. WordPress Tavern reports that come October 2017, pages of this nature could garner a “NOT SECURE” message if they have forms that require credit card information, passwords or the like. These messages will be presented to users of Google Chrome and could impact search engine optimization.

This news has got us feeling pretty nostalgic.

Back in early 2016, we wrote of “something to look out for” in terms of a Secure Sockets Layer. That something was a burgeoning company known as Let’s Encrypt. We were excited about their revolutionary software that would help create Secure Sockets Layer for free. They were in beta then. Now, they have delivered 100 million certifications to secure webpages through their service. If the above news is any indication, they are needed more than ever to ensure search engine optimization efforts don’t go to waste.

Creating a Secure Sockets Layer is a security measure that refers to the encryption of information. Information that a user fills out on a website is encrypted only they and the user can access it. Even if this is something you have not physically created, there is a very high chance you have interacted with it before. A Secure Sockets Layer is represented by a padlock in your browser.

Here’s one:

Another telltale sign is the “HTTPS” URL rather than the oppositional “HTTP.” So, “HTTP” webpages do not contain a Secure Sockets Layer and will warrant a warning from Google. This is not going to do you any favours in the world of search engine optimization. As Google rankings are calculated, in part, by a webpages’ ability to load both quickly and effectively, pages without a Secure Sockets Layer won’t fare well.

Alternatively, secure webpages could give your search engine optimization a little boost. As early as 2014, Google introduced HTTPS status as a ranking signal. Over time, they’ve increased a focus on security culminating in the messages coming this October.

The warning sent out by Google would get in the way of this. There is little doubt in the importance of search engine optimization. On an equal footing of importance is the ability to keep those who use your website’s information safe. With warnings on the way, now is the time to ensure your page is secure.