TLS/SSL (Transport Layer Security /
Secure Sockets Layer)
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What is TLS/SSL?
TLS (Transport Layer Security) and its deprecated predecessor SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) are cryptographic protocols designed to secure communication between a client (like a web browser) and a server.
When a connection uses TLS, it guarantees three core security tenets:
- Confidentiality: Encrypts data so third parties cannot eavesdrop on the payload.
- Integrity: Mathematically verifies that data has not been modified or tampered with during transit.
- Authentication: Uses digital certificates to prove the remote server is truly who it claims to be.
SSL vs. TLS: What is the Difference?
SSL is the legacy protocol; development officially stopped in 1996 after SSL 3.0 due to structural flaws. TLS is the modern, secure standard. All versions of SSL contain un-patchable vulnerabilities and must be disabled across your infrastructure. While many industry professionals still use the term “SSL certificate,” the underlying protocol powering those connections today is exclusively TLS.
