Secure Server

Boundless Internet Provides Unlimited Potential for Security Threats

Using the Web for any sort of communication or business transaction is inevitable. There is nothing like the Internet to grab the attention of so many consumers, or to facilitate the transactions between so many organizations. The Internet has freed the boundaries of communication and that of business in general - and it has done so on a worldwide scale. Yet, even though the very nature of global commerce and communication has been completely redefined by the Web, so too have crime and misconduct.

So, as intoxicating as it can be to experience the ease with which data can be transmitted and exchanged via the Internet today, the reality is that anything sent over the Web can be intercepted. In fact, data in any form sent over the Web can be intercepted by hackers: login identification, passwords, account numbers, credit card numbers, etc. Any use of the Internet, regardless of level or purpose, should include practices that seek to protect sites and visitors from the ubiquitous threat of interception. At a minimum, such safeguards should include the use of a secure server, a server that supports the secure sockets layer protocol, to protect electronically transmitted information.

What Does 'Secure' Really Mean?

Secure servers are those servers that use the secure sockets layer protocol to protect communication from unintended recipients. More commonly referred to as SSL, this security technology provides the operating rules and conditions by which a secure server can enable a secure channel of communication. With details to guide aspects like structure, representation and the encryption of electronic communication, SSL servers will communicate between other Web servers and Web browsers using cryptography, or encrypted and decrypted communication.

Generally speaking, most Web servers can employ some level of security; a common example is a login/password requirement for password-protected pages. Though conceivably effective in preventing unauthorized access, password-protection security measures are nothing more than a list of acceptable users created by the domain owner and stored on his server.

However, the difference between standard servers and secure servers is that a secure server is capable of advanced levels of security, utilizing secure SSL protocol to serve client-browser requests. It is the employment of this advanced SSL security that sets secure servers apart from the common server; it gives a secure server the ability to enable encrypted channels of communication between computing endpoints, protecting the transmitted data. For this reason, secure servers supporting SSL protocol have become the principal method for protecting information transmitted online. This is particularly evident with respect to financial transactions where SSL encryption has become the primary means by which e-commerce is conducted and the support of a secure server is now a critical factor in the development of most e-commerce Web sites.

Secure Servers are Crucial to Successful Online Business

The reality is that online security risks are perpetually increasing in both the sheer number of incidents and, of greater concern, in the sophistication of attack. It is crucial, therefore, that Web site designers and administrators understand the importance of online security risk, along with the necessity of supporting their sites with secure servers and SSL encryption technology.

Operating with premium secure servers themselves, Entrust understands the current and potential threats to online security. Entrust specializes in SSL certificates to protect the endeavors of online organizations, and features software solutions and secure server protection designed to protect online transactions, provide digital authentication and encrypt the transfer of sensitive information. Entrust's SSL certificate portfolio and management services offer the strongest foundation for protecting Web sites and their visitors, and can, therefore, support any organization seeking to secure their online endeavors.