HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security)

We are pleased to inform all our customers that the HSTS security mechanism is now available across all web hosting accounts on our hosting platform. HSTS (HTTP Strict Transport Security) is a fundamental security header for any professional web hosting environment, ensuring that access to your website is always made via HTTPS — strengthening the protection of user data and the credibility of your online project.

What is HSTS in web hosting

HSTS is a security mechanism that instructs browsers to establish connections exclusively over HTTPS, preventing access via unsecured HTTP. This means that all communications between the browser and the server are encrypted with SSL/TLS, reducing the risk of sensitive data being stolen or tampered with during transmission. For websites that handle personal data, logins or payments, this additional security layer is essential for meeting web security best practices and standards.

Benefits of enabling HSTS on your website

Enabling HSTS on a web hosting account brings several direct benefits to your website and online business:

• Enhanced security: Forces the browser to use only secure connections (HTTPS), protecting against data interception attacks and traffic sniffing.
• Reduced vulnerabilities: Helps mitigate man‑in‑the‑middle (MITM) and downgrade attacks, ensuring that communication cannot be forced back to unsecured HTTP.
• SSL Stripping prevention: Prevents an attacker from replacing a secure connection with an unsecured one by instructing the browser to refuse HTTP connections when the site supports HTTPS.
• Improved user trust: By ensuring secure browsing, it increases visitor confidence in your website and demonstrates a clear commitment to data security and privacy.

The impact of HSTS on SEO and site performance

Search engines, such as Google, place significant value on websites that correctly and consistently use HTTPS. Implementing HSTS contributes to:

• Strengthening your domain's security signals, improving the perception of quality and trustworthiness by search engines.
• Reducing browser security warnings, enhancing the user experience and decreasing the likelihood of immediate site abandonment.
• Indirectly supporting SEO performance, as more secure and trustworthy websites tend to be favoured over their unsecured counterparts.

HSTS available in our web hosting control panels

In our web hosting control panels, the option to enable and configure HSTS is available within the domain management area, allowing you to strengthen your website's security in just a few steps. Once HSTS is activated, your site will require secure connections and gain additional protection against several common web attack vectors.

If you have any questions about enabling HSTS or need assistance with the configuration, you can request support through our support area. Our web hosting team is on hand to help you implement the best security practices for your website.