In 2014, Google announced that website security would be a top priority. As a result, security became an important factor in SEO rankings. Ensuring that your website meets the necessary security standards is essential for SEO. But how can you check if your website is secure enough?
SEO check 1: SSL server test
In their announcement, Google referenced SSLLabs.com as a tool to check the security level and configuration of an SSL certificate. You can test your website’s SSL setup by running a server test on their platform.
💡 Tip: When performing the test, enable the “Do not show the results on the boards” option to prevent your website from appearing in the recently tested websites section on the SSL Labs homepage.
A website should ideally achieve an overall score of A, which is relatively easy to obtain. If you aim higher, an A+ rating is also achievable with proper configuration.
Example: SSL Labs overall score A+
SEO check 2: Security Header test
Beyond SSL configuration, security headers play a crucial role in website protection. These headers are often overlooked, making them an area where you can gain a competitive advantage in SEO.
In simple terms, security headers are rules that a server sends to the user’s web browser, restricting certain actions that could pose security risks. They help prevent code injection and cross-site scripting attacks.
How to check Security Headers?
SecurityHeaders.com
This tool provides a detailed security header analysis, with a report format similar to SSL Labs. It highlights missing or misconfigured security headers.
Example: SecurityHeaders.com Overall Score A
Hardenize.com
Hardenize checks security headers and other security-related aspects of a website. A useful feature of this tool is that it also indicates the effort required to fix each security issue.
Example: Hardenize Security Headers Report
Conclusion
Ensuring proper SSL configuration and strong security headers is an essential step in improving SEO and website security. Regularly testing your site with these tools can help you identify vulnerabilities, improve protection, and stay ahead of competitors.