Transport Layer Security encrypts network communications and authenticates the server. Current practice requires TLS 1.2 or 1.3, with earlier versions and the predecessor SSL protocol deprecated as insecure.
Configuration includes cipher suite selection and certificate management.
Alternative Names:
Transport Layer Security, SSL
Why it Matters?
Version and configuration are where TLS deployments differ, since a system supporting deprecated versions for compatibility undermines the protection for every connection. The practical vendor question is whether older versions are refused rather than merely discouraged. Certificate expiration is the operational failure that produces visible outages, and monitoring for it is a basic control.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Which TLS versions are current?
What is the common operational failure?
