Tips from a UK Squarespace designer - 2 minute read
You may have noticed that some web addresses start with http:// and others start with https://.
That extra ‘s’ is important because it means your connection to that site is secure and encrypted, and any information you enter on it is shared safely. The technology that powers that ‘s’ is called SSL which stands for Secure Sockets Layer.
SSL protection is important because it:
Provides credibility and trust – The ‘https’ and security padlock in the address bar shows visitors to your website that their information is safe, secure and encrypted.
Protects your website from hackers – Encrypting your visitors data protects it from hackers who might try to steal it through your site’s forms and checkout page.
Can help your site load faster.
Helps with SEO – Google gives secure HTTPS websites preference over non-secure ones in its search engine results.
So it’s important to make sure your website is secure — and with Squarespace doing so couldn’t be easier. All domains correctly added to Squarespace are automatically protected with free SSL, in other words they’ve already got the SSL certificate for you, you just need to turn it on.
To activate the certificate simply go to Settings > Advanced > SSL and switch SSL on (see screenshot below).
Make sure you select ‘Secure (Preferred)’ and tick ‘HSTS Secure.’ HSTS stands for HTTP Strict Transport Security and it forces browsers to always load the secure version of your site (this means the browser must refuse all HTTP connections and prevent users from accepting an insecure SSL certificate).
And that’s it! As long as any domains or subdomains for your site are added correctly, you’re done.
If you’re moving to Squarespace from a different platform, and you’re making your site secure for the first time, you may need to do more to make sure you don’t damage your existing search ranking. Have a look at Google’s guidelines on making the switch to SSL and contact Squarespace support for advice if you’re unsure.
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You may have noticed that some web addresses start with http:// and others start with https://. That extra ‘s’ is important because it means your connection to that site is secure and encrypted, and any information you enter on it is shared safely.