Why do you need an SSL/TLS certificate?
Cyber security has become a serious threat that is spreading across all sections of the internet. From schools to enterprises and individuals, it puts user data of all types and sizes at risk. The risk is especially higher when there is exchange of information through client and server systems.
There is a need for secure system that encrypt data flow from either side. An SSL/TLS certificate helps with that. It acts as an endpoint encryption system that encrypt data preventing unauthorized access by hackers.
In the present day, SSL has also gained importance as a serious ranking signal due to Google’s announcement. Websites with SSL certificates gain better search ranking traction, have better user experience and do not pose any security concerns — even during eCommerce transactions.
A brief about SSL
Netscape developed SSL in the year 1994. It was envisioned as a system that will ensure secure communication between client and server systems on the web. Gradually, the IETF (the Internet Engineering Task Force) picked up the protocol and standardized it as a protocol. Two versions of SSL followed that ironed out the vulnerabilities found in version 1. The current SSL version is SSL 3.0. If we look at below history, we can assume that IETF seriously attempted to secure online data with robust security at its best.
| SSL 1.0 | Due to security flaw, SSL 1.0 was not released. |
| SSL 2.0 | SSL v2.0 was the first public release of SSL by Netscape. It was released in February 1995 but there were design flaws that compelled Netscape to release SSL v.3. However, SSL v.2.0 was deprecated in 2011. |
| SSL 3.0 | SSL v3 was an upgrade version of earlier version SSL v2.0 that fixed few security design flaws of SSL v2.0 However, SSL v3.0 deemed insecure in 2004 due to the POODLE attack. |
A brief about TLS
TLS means Transport Layer Security, which is a cryptographic protocol successor of SSL 3.0, which was released in 1999.
| TSL 1.0 | TLS 1.0 which was upgrade of SSL v.3.0 released in January 1999 but it allows connection downgrade to SSL v.3.0. |
| TSL 1.1 | After that, TLS v1.1 was released in April 2006, which was an update of TLS 1.0 version. It added protection against CBC (Cipher Block Chaining) attacks. In March 2020, Google, Apple, Mozilla and Microsoft has announced for deprecation of TLS 1.0 and 1.1 versions. |
| TSL 1.2 | TLS v1.2 was released in 2008 that allows to specification of hash and algorithm used by the client and server. It allows authenticated encryption, which was added more support with extra data modes. TLS 1.2 was able to verify length of data based on cipher suite. |
| TSL 1.3 | TLS v1.3 was released in August 2018 and had major features that differentiate it with its earlier version TLS v1.2 like removal of MD5 and SHA-224 support, require digital signature when earlier configuration used, compulsory use of Perfect forward secrecy in case of public-key based key exchange, handshake messages will now be encrypted after “Server Hello”. |
The latest PCI compliance standards require that any site accepting credit card payments uses TLS 1.2 after June 30, 2018. Even though you have some time before TLS 1.2 is required for PCI compliance, most internet services are moving to require support of TLS 1.2 earlier. Services such as PayPal, Authorize.net, Stripe, UPS, FedEx, and many others already support TLS1.2, and have announced that they will eventually refuse TLS 1.0 connections. This means your safest action is to upgrade to TLS 1.2 sooner than later to avoid disruption.
The Differences
| S.No | Concepts | Differences | |
| TLS | SSL | ||
| 1 | Released in the year | It was released in 1999. | SSL v2.0 was first released in 1995 and v3.0 in 1996. SSL v1.0 was not released to the public. |
| 2 | Based on which protocol? | It’s based on the SSL v3.0 protocol and with improvements. | No such basis. It was developed with communication needs and related issues. |
| 3 | The predecessor of which protocol? | Might be the predecessor to few latest improvements in the same protocol. | The predecessor of TLS. |
| 4 | Vulnerable attacks | TLS v1.0 is vulnerable to BEAST attacks. But it never allows POODLE attacks. | SSL v2.0 & v3.0 are vulnerable to BEAST and POODLE attacks. |
| 5 | Which is secure? | TLS v2.0 is susceptible to both BEAST & POODLE attacks and hence it is more secure. | The SSL versions are less secure. |
| 6 | When to choose TLS and when to choose SSL? | When your server is capable of running the latest version of TLS, then go ahead with this protocol. Otherwise, it is better to use SSL v3.0. | When the server is not capable of running TLS 1.2, go ahead with SSL v3.0 or any other versions of it. |
| 7 | Certificates | The server that is configured with TLS protocols uses TLS certificates of the respective version. For example, if the server is configured with TLS v1.0, then it uses the respective TLS v1.0 certificate. | The server that is configured with SSL protocols uses SSL certificates of the respective version. For example, if the server is configured with SSL v3.0, then it uses the respective SSL v3.0 certificate. |
| 8 | Are they compatible? | TLS is not compatible with versions of SSL. | Similarly, we can say it in the reverse. |
| 9 | Does IETF have deprecated the use of it? | No, there is no such deprecation associated with TLS versions. | Yes, it has deprecated the SSL v2.0 & v3.0. |
| 10 | When do you encounter certificate issues? | If you have configured your server with TLS protocols and if the communicating server uses any other certificate, this problem occurs. | If you have configured your server with SSL protocols and if the communicating server uses any other certificate, this problem occurs. |
| 11 | How to handle certificate issues? | Just disable the TLS configuration and configure your server with the other supporting protocols. But you should be cautious that such an act may create security issues and therefore, be sure to choose a secured internet protocol. Or else, simply ignore the communication with that particular server that does not support your TLS protocols. | You can disable the SSL server configuration as mentioned above. |
| 12 | Which is faster? | It is little slower due to the two-step communication process i.e. handshaking and actual data transfer. | It is faster than TLS as authentications are not carried out intensively. |
| 13 | Which is complex to manage on the server side? | It is complex as it requires certificate validations and good authentications. | It is simpler than the TLS as it lacks few features that are present in the TLS. |
| 14 | Back-compatibility | It is backward compatible and supports SSL. | It does not support TLS. |
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