Being new to website security can be tough. There may be a lot of terms that you’re not so familiar with, and a lot of new concepts that keep on emerging.
If you’ve been trying to familiarize yourself with web security, youve probably come across the term SSL. But what is SSL and how does it work?
Heres a basic rundown on the things you should know about this web security tool.
What is SSL?
SSL stands for Secure Sockets Layer. It’s a privacy tool that establishes an encrypted link between the browser and the server. In other words, SSL is the technology used to make sure that the information exchanged between the browser and the server is secure. It actually provides one of the highest degrees of privacy on the web.
How does SSL work?
By now, you might be wondering how SSL works in order to secure a connection. The whole process actually evolves in encrypting the data.
Normally, what happens is that when there’s an exchange of information form the browser to the server, other people might be able to access it. Through this, they’ll be able to get vital information such as credit card info, SSNs, and the like.
But with an SSL, the information exchanged from the browser to the server is encrypted. This means that when anyone else tries to access the information, all they will get is a distorted form of the data. It converts the data in such a way that it becomes near-impossible for third parties to decrypt it.
Aside from encrypting data, SSL also serves as a verification tool. What it does, is it runs an authentication process to ensure that both the browser and the server are actually who they claim to be.
Moreover, SSL also provides a digital signature. This also makes it an authentication tool. It digitally signs data in order to certify that the data is not tampered with as it travels to the intended receiver.
Getting certified
Getting an SSL certification is easy. All you have to do is submit a CSR or Certificate Signing Request to the SSL Certificate Issuer or Certificate Authority. The Certificate Issuer will then create a data structure that will match your private key. After which, it sends you the certificate and you have to install it to your server.
Importance of SSL
Knowing what SSL can do and how SSL works will help you realize just how important it is to web security. It’s a tool that not only creates secure connections, but also establishes trust between the sender of the data and the intended recipient. It helps ensure the secure sending of data online, and makes both the sender and the receiver feel more at ease with the exchanges.
