Google has announced that it is going now factor if a site is using an SSL / HTTPS into search engine rankings. This is a very positive step for the industry to push forwards the security agenda and work to ensure that users data is protected. Whilst this is only a small step it is a very worthwhile one.
What can I do next?
If you don’t have an SSL setup, we can help you add an SSL to your site, just email support@catalyst2.com and we can sort it all out for you.
How can I force my site to use an SSL?
You can use this code at the top of your .htaccess file:
RewriteEngine On RewriteCond %{SERVER_PORT} 80 RewriteRule ^(.*)$ [R,L]
Don’t forget to update the domain name!
If you are using Windows Hosting you can do this:
<rule name="HTTP to HTTPS redirect" stopProcessing="true">
<match url="(.*)" />
<conditions>
<add input="{HTTPS}" pattern="off" ignoreCase="true" />
</conditions>
<action type="Redirect" redirectType="Found" url="https://{HTTP_HOST}/{R:1}" />
</rule>
You can find our more about the SSL certificates we offer on our website.