SSL certificates are indispensable today as they are used widely to ensure communication and data security over the internet. While the importance, benefits, and types of SSL certificates are widely discussed, there is not much one can find about SSL certificate features. This article delves into the 6 important SSL certificate features that you should know about.
6 Important SSL Certificates Features
1. Encryption
One of the key SSL certificate features is data encryption. SSL certificates encrypt data in transit using asymmetric and symmetric encryption. Asymmetric encryption is used for establishing the SSL Handshake between the server and client and involves a public and private key. Symmetric encryption is used after the SSL Handshake is established for the session and session keys.
Robust SSL solutions use strong encryption algorithms, hashing algorithms, and keys. SHA-2 is the widely used hashing algorithm, protecting from collision attacks. RSA and ECC are the widely used public-key encryption algorithms. They offer strong data security and make it impossible for attackers to decrypt data, even if they gain access to it fully. Asymmetric keys that are 2048-bit sized and symmetric in the 128-256-bit range help ensure the strongest data encryption and security.
2. Fragmentation
An important SSL security feature is that data in transit is not sent in one large chunk but as several fragments. These multiple fragments are reassembled when the client receives data. Fragmentation is done typically using block ciphers in TLS/ SSL protocols.
When block ciphers are used, data is broken down into fixed-size blocks of 64/128/256 bits. When plaintext data is not in multiples of 8, the padding technique (adding redundant bits) is used to make up for the gap and ensure a complete block. Block ciphers also use diffusion techniques. The AES (Advanced Encryption Standard) is a popular block cipher.
When TLS is used on top of reliable protocols, it ensures that data is received in the same order and that it has not been tampered with in transit.
3. Confidentiality
Confidentiality is another important SSL certificate feature. The use of symmetric and asymmetric encryption, strong hashing algorithms, public-key encryption algorithms, block ciphers, strong keys, and so on help ensure that data in transit is not in plaintext and is disguised and fragmented. This way, the data exchanged between server and client is fully private and confidential. Even if an attacker were to intercept the connection, SSL ensures that they cannot decipher the text, not in its entirety at least. The data in transit can only be deciphered by the intended recipient, not an illegitimate entity.
4. Integrity
Yet another SSL feature is that it makes data in transit unintelligible to any unauthorized entity. Strong encryption, hashing, and fragmentation techniques used by SSL help ensure data integrity in transit. In other words, it ensures that data is not tampered with by illegitimate entities during an exchange between the server and client – they cannot read, modify, or steal it.
Moreover, all communications using the SSL/ TLS protocol contain a Message Authentication Code (MAC) to assure data integrity. MAC is a digital signature from the origin server to indicate that the data originates from that server.
5. Server Authentication
Server authentication is another key SSL certificate feature. This SSL security feature helps clients/ browsers ensure that they are engaging with a legitimate entity. To this end, the Certificate Authority (CA) engages in a validation process before issuing the certificate. This validation process differs based on the type of certificate chosen.
If a Domain Validation (DV) certificate is chosen, the CA verifies that the domain is owned by the entity requesting the certificate. The process is pretty straightforward and gets completed within minutes. Further, DV certs are very cheap and sometimes even free. Given the lower barriers to entry, these certificates often end up with cybercriminals and scammers for their phishing websites.
Organization Validation (OV) and Extended Validation (EV) certificates offer higher levels of authentication as they check if the organization is an entity with an active legal presence. EV certs also ensure that the entity has a more rigorous validation process and a physical presence. As a result, EV and OV certs are harder for scammers and phishers to obtain.
The server sends the client the SSL certificate during TLS Handshake to validate the server identity. The client checks the certificate’s validity and decides whether to trust the website or not.
6. Client Authentication
SSL certificates authenticate the server and automatically authenticate client identity during the SSL Handshake through the asymmetric key exchange. Further, SSL-enabled servers can be tuned/ configured to require specific authentication of the client’s identity through cryptographic validation/ requesting for a client certificate.
Conclusion
The SSL Certificate features assure internet communications’ security, integrity, and privacy and help keep many cyberthreats, including Man-in-the-middle attacks, at bay. With an Entrust SSL certificate from Indusface show your visitors you are authentic and trustworthy!
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