In the immense digital world of today, information security has become a primary concern. Transferring data safely via the Internet is crucial in order to protect the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information. A key tool for this is the SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) protocol. In this article, we will break down what SSL decryption is, how it contributes to safe digital communications, and the advantages and disadvantages of using it. To get a better idea, according to Google’s Transparency Report, 95% of the traffic that goes through its web is encrypted.

To fully understand the concepts at hand, we have to start by defining what SSL decryption is: it is the process of decrypting traffic at scale and routing it to various inspection tools which identify threats inbound to applications, as well as outbound from users to the Internet. SSL provides an additional security layer by encrypting the information transmitted between the client and the server, meaning that, even if a third party intercepts communications, data will be illegible without the proper encryption key. For instance, when surfing through the Internet, the browser’s address will most likely start with https:// instead of http://. In the most commonly used browsers, the connection is safe because we see a lock we can click on to verify the identity of the issuer of the certificate.

Traffic encryption and safe communications

Some of the contributions traffic encryption has made to communications security are:
a) Data encryption
The main feature of SSL encryption is data encryption. When a safe SSL connection is set up via SSL, sensitive information (such as passwords, credit card numbers, and any other confidential detail) is transformed into a format that is unreadable by any non-authorized person or body.
b) Authentication
SSL also plays a crucial role in authenticating both ends of the communication link. It uses digital certificates to verify the identity of the server and, in some cases, that of the client. This guarantees users are interacting with the proper website or service, and not with a malicious impostor.
c) Data integrity
SSL encryption guarantees data integrity. If the information being transmitted is modified at one point during data transmission, the recipient can see it (since encryption is based on algorithsms that create digital signatures to make sure data has not been tampered with).
d) Confidentiality
SSL encryption ensures information is kept confidential. Even if a hacker manages to intercept communications, without the proper decryption key the data would be unreadable.

Thanks to all of the features described above, nobody can access the information. However, this can also prove dangerous since encrypted information may contain threats that are impossible to detect by analyzing the packages. Therefore, in order to access this information, an intermediate server must be set up to open the encrypted connection and generate a new one to the final destination. This method is known as ‘man-in-the-middle’. Despite its advantages to prevent attacks, it can also cause some problems (as detailed below).

Advantages of SSL decryption

• Sensitive data protection: Essential to protect sensitive data like personal and financial details. It provides a crucial security layer to ensure this critical information is not available to unauthorized persons during transmission.
• User confidence: As we have previously commented, the fact that a lock appears over the browser increases user confidence by indicating the connection is safe and data are protected during transmission (since the recipient is whom he says he is). This means that financial transactions (such as online shopping) or access to personal or work-related information can be safely carried out without fear of them being intercepted.
• Regulatory compliance: In many sectors, using SSL is a requirement to meet applicable safety standards and regulations. For instance, online financial transactions and the consultation of medical records often require the use of SSL to meet specific regulations.
• Improving search engine rankings: Search engines, such as Google, prioritize websites that use safe connections. Therefore, implementing SSL not only improves security, but it can have a positive impact on a website’s search ranking.

Disadvantages of SSL decryption

• Related costs: There may be related costs associated to obtaining and maintaining an SSL certificate, which particularly affects small companies. Although there are some free options, the most trustworthy and secure SSL certificates often come at a price.
• Performance: Although technological advancements have greatly reduced the impact on performance, encryption and decryption operations require certain computing power and may slightly slow down transfer speeds. This is more noticeable in websites with a lot of traffic.
• Complex configuration: The initial SSL configuration can be too technical, especially for those not familiar with server administration and certificates. This can become an issue for smaller or less technical websites.
• Limited compatibility: Although SSL adoption has increased considerably, compatibility issues may arise with some old devices or browsers. As a result, user experiences can be less consistent.

Conclusion

In a digital world where security has become a priority, SSL decryption plays a crucial role in protecting online communications. Despite some disadvantages, such as potential performance issues and related costs, the  advantages of SSL deployment far outweigh any drawbacks. Ultimately, SSL decryption has become a digital security staple, bolstering the Internet’s infrastructure and protecting the privacy of millions of users worldwide.

As part of its security solutions, Teldat offers the chance to analyze encrypted data while simultaneously making exceptions to this rule to guarantee the privacy of users and meet the applicable regulations.

References

• https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/certificado-ssl-en-hosting-ventajas-y-desventajas-alexander-minaya/?originalSubdomain=es
• https://seon.io/es/recursos/glosario/revision-certificado-ssl/
• https://www.zscaler.es/resources/security-terms-glossary/what-is-ssl-decryption
• https://mx.godaddy.com/blog/ventajas-desventajas-certificados-ssl/
• https://www.cbtnuggets.com/blog/certifications/security/ssl-decryption-benefits-challenges-and-best-practices
• https://www.orangecyberdefense.com/be/blog/ssl-encryption-decryption-the-must-knows
• https://transparencyreport.google.com/https/overview?hl=es