TLS stands for “Transport Layer Security” and describes a widely used encryption protocol that facilitates data security and data protection for communication. TLS is an updated and more secure version of SSL.
The main objectives of TLS are authentication, encryption and integrity protection. Authentication involves verifying the identity of the server or the client. This is done by using digital certificates issued by trusted certification authorities. These certificates confirm the identity of the parties involved. Encryption is responsible for the data that is transferred between the client and server. This protects the information from unauthorized access, as it cannot be read without the correct decryption key. Integrity protection ensures that the data is not manipulated during transmission. Changes to the data are recognized, which guarantees data integrity. TLS is used in web browsers or web servers to provide secure connections for the transmission of sensitive information. This information can be user credentials, confidential documents or credit card information.
TLS is also important in other applications that require secure communication, such as email, virtual private networks (VPNs) or instant messaging. There are several versions of TLS, with TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3 being the most widely used. TLS 1.3 is the latest version and ensures efficiency due to its improved security features.