The topic of web security has gained significant importance in recent years. More and more online shops and websites are adopting the secure Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) to ensure the confidentiality and integrity of their data. Search engines also reward the use of HTTPS with better rankings in search results.
Smartstore has actively followed this trend from the beginning and has comprehensively updated its features for HTTPS configuration in the latest version 5. In this article, we will take a closer look at the various aspects of this upgrade.
Why is HTTPS important for an online shop?
Using HTTPS offers several advantages for an online shop. Here are some reasons why every online shop should use HTTPS:
Security: HTTPS encrypts the communication between the web server and the client, protecting against data leaks and man-in-the-middle attacks. This is particularly important for the security of payment data and customers' personal information.
SEO benefits: Search engines like Google prefer websites that use HTTPS and reward them with better rankings in search results. This can lead to increased visibility and traffic for your online shop.
Customer trust: Customers are increasingly aware of the security of their data and prefer online shops that use HTTPS. By using HTTPS, you signal to your customers that you take their privacy and security seriously.
Data integrity: HTTPS also protects against data manipulation during transmission, ensuring that the data received by the customer is unchanged and authentic.
Smartstore 5 Upgrade for HTTPS configurations
With Smartstore 5, the HTTPS configuration has been thoroughly revised and improved. Here are some of the key new features and enhancements:
SSL certificates and hosting
In the past, acquiring and integrating SSL certificates into hosting providers was often difficult and expensive. Smartstore 5 has solved this problem by simplifying and supporting the integration of SSL certificates. Today, SSL certificates can even be obtained for free through services like letsencrypt.org.
Store URL and redirections
The store URL is the heart of every online shop. With Smartstore 5, you can now easily and securely switch your store URL to HTTPS. The redirection from HTTPS to HTTP, downgrading the security, is a thing of the past. This increases the overall security of your shop installation by avoiding a specific reverse proxy issue.
SEO optimization
The HTTPS configuration in Smartstore 5 has also been improved with a focus on search engine optimization (SEO). The use of HTTPS is positively evaluated by search engines like Google and can lead to better rankings. Smartstore 5 now offers features such as automatic redirection from HTTP to HTTPS and the ability to set canonical tags for HTTPS pages.
User-friendliness
Smartstore 5 places great emphasis on user-friendliness. The HTTPS configuration has been designed to be easy to use and understand. Even beginners can easily set up and use the HTTPS configuration in Smartstore 5.
Configuration options
Smartstore 5 now offers advanced configuration options for HTTPS operation. You can customize the HTTPS configuration to your needs, such as setting the encryption strength and encryption algorithm.
Therefore, the Smartstore component "Store URL," the heart of every online shop, has now received a comprehensive upgrade. The outdated functions have been revised, and some have been removed without replacement! New features have been added to meet current requirements. The result is an improved and more user-friendly system that meets the specific needs of the shop project.
The optimal configuration now looks as follows, for example:
Store.Url = https://myshop.com/Store.SslEnabled = Yes/No (the value here doesn't matter because the main URL starts with https, which the new system recognizes)Store.SslPort = Empty- HTTP to HTTPS redirection: occurs!
- Store.GetBaseUrl() returns: https://myshop.com/
... or ...
Store.Url = http://myshop.com/Store.SslEnabled = Yes (if SSL is desired because the main URL does NOT start with https)Store.SslPort = Empty (automatically determined) or the desired port number in the range 0 to 65535- HTTP to HTTPS redirection: occurs! http://myshop.com/ -> https://myshop.com[:PortIfNot443]/
- Store.GetBaseUrl() returns: https://myshop.com/
... or ...
Store.Url = http://myshop.com/Store.SslEnabled = NoStore.SslPort = Irrelevant, as no SSL is used with HTTP- HTTP to HTTPS redirection: prevented by the new system, does NOT occur!
- Store.GetBaseUrl() returns: http://myshop.com/
... or for local development of a shop project ...
Store.Url = http://localhost:59318/Store.SslEnabled = YesStore.SslPort = 44325 (or leave empty, then the system will determine the port number)- HTTP to HTTPS redirection: does NOT occur because this example is for localhost and a development environment, which is recognized by the new system.
- Store.GetBaseUrl() still returns: https://myshop.com:44325/, but IWebHelper.GetStoreLocation() returns: http://localhost:59318/
HTTPS configuration has become essential for every online shop
With Smartstore 5, the HTTPS configuration has been thoroughly revised and improved to meet current requirements. By using HTTPS, you can enhance the security, SEO, and user-friendliness of your online shop. Do not hesitate to upgrade to Smartstore 5 and take advantage of the new features and improvements.
For more information, please refer to the Github Commit b1f659a.
If you have further questions about HTTPS configurations, please call us or send us an email. Our Smartstore team is ready to assist you personally!