Security (BC-SEC)

An Internet standard protocol developed by Netscape that is used to secure communications across the Internet.

The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol layer exists between the network-layer protocol (for example, TCP/IP) and the application layer protocol (for example, HTTP). The protocol uses public-key technology to secure the communication between a client and a server.

The SSL protocol provides for the following:

• Encrypted connections
• SSL server authentication
• SSL client authentication
• SSL mutual authentication (Both server and client authentication)

To access Internet addresses that use SSL connections, you use URLs starting with HTTPS: instead of HTTP:.