Abstract
Patron privacy and confidentiality is a fundamental value of librarianship. One of the most fundamental ways to safeguard both patron and institutional data online is to use Hypertext Transfer Protocol Secure (HTTPS) to encrypt data in transit between systems. Although the period 2015 onward has seen a dramatic shift toward HTTPS, libraries and vendors have a long way to go to implement HTTPS everywhere. Written for newcomers to digital encryption, this column describes how HTTPS works, explains why HTTPS is essential in the context of escalating cyberattacks on higher education and libraries, and presents the latest data on HTTPS adoption by research libraries and the vendors that serve libraries. Next is an explanation of the practical side of HTTPS implementation, including case studies drawn from the author’s experience. Finally, this column lists free web tools, industry standards, and sources of information for librarians eager to advocate and implement HTTPS, ending with a call to action.
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