Google Pushes All Websites to Adopt Enrcyption - Is Your Website Ready for this Change? Probably Not.
FROM THE INTERWEBS - Google wants to kill the unencrypted internet, and will soon flag two thirds of the web as "unsafe."
Google wants everything on the web to be travelling over a secure channel. That's why in the future your Chrome browser will flag unencrypted websites as insecure, displaying a red "x" over a padlock in the URL bar.
With this upcoming change in Chrome, Google makes it clear that the web of the future should all be encrypted, and all sites should be served over HTTPS, which is essentially a secure layer on top of the usual HTTP web protocol. Several companies and organizations have been pushing for more encrypted sites as part of a campaign to "Encrypt All The Things," which consists of promoting more websites to abandon the traditional, less secure HTTP protocol and adopt HTTPS.
Currently, Chrome displays only an icon of a white page when the website you're accessing is not secured with HTTPS, a green locked padlock when it is, as well as a padlock with a red "x" on it when there's something wrong with the HTTPS page the user is trying to access. The change will draw even more attention to the sites that are potentially insecure.
The rationale is that on every website served over HTTP the data exchanged between the site's server and the user is in the clear, meaning anyone with the ability to snoop on the connection, be it a hacker at a coffee shop or a repressive government, could steal passwords, private messages, or other sensitive information.
But HTTPS doesn't just protect user data, it also ensures that the user is really connecting to the right site and not an imposter one. This is important because setting up a fake version of a website users normally trust is a favorite tactic of hackers and malicious actors. HTTPS also ensures that a malicious third party can't hijack the connection and insert malware or censor information.
So What Does This Mean for My Website?
Most websites do not use HTTPS, as this has primarily been reserved for e-commerce sites or those that process transactions, credit cards, or other sensitive user data. However, with this change, Google wants EVERY website to use HTTPS by default, even if your website does not process any "sensitive" data or anything more than plain text or images. In other words, even if your website is just your typical, ordinary website, Google wants it to use HTTPS.
And if it doesn't, your customers are going to get a big, scary warning from their browser.
Of course Google does not own the Internet, and not everyone uses Chrome as their browser, so this change may not be noticeable by everyone - YET. But the writing is on the wall, and with Google's power over the web community, and the large installed base of Chrome users, it is only a matter of time until this change will affect us all. So the time is coming, and sooner than you think. Very soon indeed, it will be imperative for you to move to HTTPS encryption for your website.
How Do I Move to HTTPS Encryption for My Website?
And What Does This Cost?
So glad you asked! Making your website operate over HTTPS is as simple as having us install an SSL Certificate (SSL stands for Secure Socket Layer) that is issued by a third-party authority. SSL Certificates are renewable on an annual term and provide up to 256 bit encryption, thereby offering the highest level of encryption and security possible. The cost for this SSL Certificate and installation is $300/year.
| SECURE YOUR WEBSITE TODAY - Contact Stratatomic today at 864.271.7021 or email us at contact@stratatomic.com to put our technical solutions to work for your business. |
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Stratatomic Honored With 2016 WebAward for Service Transport, Inc. (STI) Website Online at ServiceTransport.com
GREENVILLE, SC - Stratatomic has recently been honored with a 2016 WebAward in the Transportation category for the Service Transport, Inc. (STI) website, now available online at ServiceTransport.com.
Now in its 17th year, the WebAward program is the longest running annual website award competition dedicated to naming the best Web sites in 96 industries while setting the standard of excellence for all website development. The annual WebAward competition is produced by The Web Marketing Association, founded in 1997 to help set a high standard for Internet marketing and development of the best websites on the World Wide Web. To learn more, please visit the WebAward website at www.webaward.org.
Stratatomic is Greenville's most awarded web design firm, and has been honored with various awards and accolades for outstanding web design and development, including a 2016 WebAward, 2015 Interactive Media Award, 2014 Horizon Interactive Award (responsive website design), 2014 Horizon Interactive Award (email campaign), 2012 Horizon Interactive Award, 2010 Interactive Media Award, 2008 WebAward, 2007 Interactive Media Award, 2006 Horizon Interactive Award, and 2005 WebAward.
The new STI website is based on the latest HTML5 technology and incorporates a "responsive" design that automatically adjusts to fit any screen size, be it desktop, laptop, tablet or mobile device. The website includes information on the company's freight transportation, warehousing, distribution and logistics services. Stratatomic will also provide STI with website hosting and Search Engine Optimization (SEO) services.
Service Transport, Inc. (STI), headquartered in Greer, SC, recently celebrated 25 years of business in 2016. STI provides expedited freight transportation services for shipping and delivery of time critical loads, maintaining at the ready an extensive fleet of modern trucks, haulers, flatbeds, cargo vans, and air charters available. STI's transportation services include Hot Shot Expedited Freight, LTL Shipping, Regional and Inbound Truckloads, Backhauls, Flatbed and Heavy Hauls, Air Freight and Air Charter Services, Dock-to-Dock, Non-Stop and Defined Time Delivery, Special Freight Equipment Needs, Storage Trailers, Ocean and Portable Containers, as well as Warehousing, Logistics and Distribution Services.
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Have You Joined the Mobile Revolution? What Are You Waiting For?
DON'T GET LEFT BEHIND. It's official. In fact, it's old news. The Mobile Revolution is upon us, and today more of your website visitors are likely to find you and visit your website on a mobile device rather than a desktop computer.
Just last year, Google announced algorithm updates that will have a “significant impact” on mobile search results worldwide for mobile searchers. The update improves rankings for sites that provide a mobile-friendly experience to searchers on mobile devices, and, by association, demotes sites that do not.
Having a mobile website is essential in order to remain competitive in today's Internet landscape. Google is driving this trend forward and there is no escaping the fact that unless you join the current mobile revolution, your business will be left behind. Current analytics research indicates that more than 50% of current searches are coming from smartphones and mobile devices. This trend will only continue to grow. Can you afford to disappear from the search results of more than half of your customers? For some industries, it could be even more.
Stratatomic is leading the way to the Mobile Revolution and has earned a number of industry awards for mobile-optimized "Responsive" designs that automatically adjust to any screen size, be it smartphone, table or desktop. Our goal is to make it an award-winner too, just like the STI website.
| If you haven't joined the mobile revolution, contact Stratatomic today to learn more about how we can put you at the forefront of this technological shift. |
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Stratatomic Completes Transition to New Datacenter and Web Hosting Server Technology
GREENVILLE, SC - Stratatomic recently completed the transition to a new state-of-the-art datacenter and web hosting server that brings the latest technology, speed and performance to all Stratatomic hosting clients.
The new host server is powered by the latest Quad-core Xeon processors and features a RAID 5 configuration for maximum redundancy and data integrity. The web server is powered by a Linux operating system and Apache HTTP Server technology, which is the backbone of the Internet and used by many of the largest eCommerce firms and government agencies, including Amazon, Google, IBM, NASA, NYSE, the US Department of Defense, and many more.
The immediate benefit to Stratatomic clients can be seen by significant speed increases and dramatic reduction in web page loading times.
"Having just completed another server migration about 2 years ago, we had hoped to be set for some time, but the pace of technology and our business growth just keeps moving forward at an impressive rate. With this new investment in the latest server technology, we anticipate our customers will readily notice the improved speed and response their websites receive. This server will position us well for the foreseeable future and give us a robust cloud platform for continued growth," says Stratatomic founder and president Ryan Owens.
Stratatomic's managed web hosting service provider completed a SAS 70 Type II Audit Process and Certification in 2010.
> READ MORE ABOUT SAS 70 CERTIFICATION
| Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the widely recognized auditing standard provides assurance that Stratatomic's web hosting infrastructure has been through an evaluation of its internal processes and controls by an independent third-party auditor. |
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