Self-sign Certificates are free but nobody aware that how it will affect user's trust and confidence. The valuable information on The Hidden Costs of Self-Signed SSL. Learn how it will put your business security on risk?
Protect sensitive data and ensuring that only authorized users, using known devices, can see data in the clear. We’re happy to let the traditional security experts work on their perimeters, knowing that when they fail, our customers’ data remains secure. And, in contrast with products designed for big enterprises, we’ve created a solution that can be installed, configured, and afforded by small businesses without IT staff.
Reducing cardholder data footprint with tokenization and other techniquesVISTA InfoSec
PCI DSS Compliance can be very challenging for businesses, especially when they are expected to meet the stringent standard requirements. They are constantly under the pressure of being compliant and struggle to keep up with the compliance challenges. Addressing this challenge, VISTA InfoSec hosted a very informative webinar on “Reducing Cardholder Data Footprint with Tokenization and other Techniques” that provides details on various techniques to reduce the scope of compliance. The webinar highlights different techniques that can be implemented to reduce the scope of Compliance by limiting the Cardholder Data footprint in the environment.
If you find this video interesting and wish to learn more about different techniques or have any queries regarding the same, then do drop us a comment in the comment section below. We would be more than happy to educate you on it and clear all your doubts. You can subscribe to our channel for more videos on Information Security and Compliance Standards. Do like, share, and comment on our video, if you find it informative and useful to you.
Protect sensitive data and ensuring that only authorized users, using known devices, can see data in the clear. We’re happy to let the traditional security experts work on their perimeters, knowing that when they fail, our customers’ data remains secure. And, in contrast with products designed for big enterprises, we’ve created a solution that can be installed, configured, and afforded by small businesses without IT staff.
Reducing cardholder data footprint with tokenization and other techniquesVISTA InfoSec
PCI DSS Compliance can be very challenging for businesses, especially when they are expected to meet the stringent standard requirements. They are constantly under the pressure of being compliant and struggle to keep up with the compliance challenges. Addressing this challenge, VISTA InfoSec hosted a very informative webinar on “Reducing Cardholder Data Footprint with Tokenization and other Techniques” that provides details on various techniques to reduce the scope of compliance. The webinar highlights different techniques that can be implemented to reduce the scope of Compliance by limiting the Cardholder Data footprint in the environment.
If you find this video interesting and wish to learn more about different techniques or have any queries regarding the same, then do drop us a comment in the comment section below. We would be more than happy to educate you on it and clear all your doubts. You can subscribe to our channel for more videos on Information Security and Compliance Standards. Do like, share, and comment on our video, if you find it informative and useful to you.
DLP 101: Help identify and plug information leaksAbhishek Sood
A data loss prevention (DLP) strategy isn’t something to be taken lightly: its cost, impact on process, and responsibility for keeping an enterprise’s data secure cannot be understated as data becomes more accessible and mobile.
In this e-guide discover:
What it means for security for data to be in use, in motion, and at rest
How DLP works: standalone vs. integrated
The DLP learning curve
And more
How To Plan Successful Encryption StrategyClickSSL
Nowadays, almost every digital device is connected to the internet. There are many benefits of staying online such as receiving information on real time, mobility, and affordability. Previously there was limited functionality available on the online platform such as browsing news, information and watching videos.
Technology Overview - Symantec Data Loss Prevention (DLP)Iftikhar Ali Iqbal
The presentation provides the following:
- Symantec Corporate Overview
- Solution Portfolio of Symantec
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - Introduction
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - Components
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - Features & Use Cases
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - System Requirements
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - Appendix (extra information)
This provides a brief overview of Symantec Data Loss Prevention (DLP). Please note all the information is based prior to May 2016 and the full integration of Blue Coat Systems's set of solutions.
Cybersecurity Identity and Access Management applies to the security architecture and disciplines for digital identity management. It governs the duties and access rights shared with individual customers and the conditions under which such privileges are permitted or refused.
Secure Channels financial institution presentation. Featuring solutions using key management. Learn more about our patented encryption by visiting www.securechannels.com
This Presentation addresses the following questions:
Who we are?
What is DLP?
Why say we are next generation?
Enterprise configuration?
How to prevent your data loss?
DocuSign’s Chief Security Officer, Joan Ross, provided this presentation to current and potential customers at DocuSign’s 2012 Momentum event held in San Francisco, California, on May 2, 2012.
CA Technologies and Deloitte: Unleash and Protect your Business with Identity...CA Technologies
Protecting today’s cloud-based, mobile enterprise requires a new approach – one that focuses on secure identity and access management (IAM), while at the same time driving two critical imperatives:
Learn how to enable business growth by:
• Quickly deploying new online services
• Leveraging new advances in cloud computing and virtualization
• Accommodating the needs of demanding, tech-savvy users
(i.e., customers, partners, employees, etc.)
• Driving greater employee productivity and increasing business intelligence
Protect the business by:
• Mitigating the risk of fraud, breaches, insider threats and improper access – from both internal and external sources
• Safeguarding critical systems, applications and data
Download the eBook today to learn more.
Selleks, et julgeks andmed pilveteenusesse viia, peab esmalt teenusepakkujat usaldama. Mida on Microsoft ära teinud selleks, et klientide usaldust võita? Kuidas hoida andmeid pilve-Exchange’is ja pilve-SharePointis turvaliselt, jagada välja krüpteeritult ning põhjalikult kontrollida süsteemide kasutajate volitusi.
Looking to secure your website? Don’t forget about SSL certificates. Read our blog to learn what they are and how you can obtain one. https://www.webguru-india.com/blog/ssl-certificates/
DLP 101: Help identify and plug information leaksAbhishek Sood
A data loss prevention (DLP) strategy isn’t something to be taken lightly: its cost, impact on process, and responsibility for keeping an enterprise’s data secure cannot be understated as data becomes more accessible and mobile.
In this e-guide discover:
What it means for security for data to be in use, in motion, and at rest
How DLP works: standalone vs. integrated
The DLP learning curve
And more
How To Plan Successful Encryption StrategyClickSSL
Nowadays, almost every digital device is connected to the internet. There are many benefits of staying online such as receiving information on real time, mobility, and affordability. Previously there was limited functionality available on the online platform such as browsing news, information and watching videos.
Technology Overview - Symantec Data Loss Prevention (DLP)Iftikhar Ali Iqbal
The presentation provides the following:
- Symantec Corporate Overview
- Solution Portfolio of Symantec
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - Introduction
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - Components
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - Features & Use Cases
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - System Requirements
- Symantec Data Loss Prevention - Appendix (extra information)
This provides a brief overview of Symantec Data Loss Prevention (DLP). Please note all the information is based prior to May 2016 and the full integration of Blue Coat Systems's set of solutions.
Cybersecurity Identity and Access Management applies to the security architecture and disciplines for digital identity management. It governs the duties and access rights shared with individual customers and the conditions under which such privileges are permitted or refused.
Secure Channels financial institution presentation. Featuring solutions using key management. Learn more about our patented encryption by visiting www.securechannels.com
This Presentation addresses the following questions:
Who we are?
What is DLP?
Why say we are next generation?
Enterprise configuration?
How to prevent your data loss?
DocuSign’s Chief Security Officer, Joan Ross, provided this presentation to current and potential customers at DocuSign’s 2012 Momentum event held in San Francisco, California, on May 2, 2012.
CA Technologies and Deloitte: Unleash and Protect your Business with Identity...CA Technologies
Protecting today’s cloud-based, mobile enterprise requires a new approach – one that focuses on secure identity and access management (IAM), while at the same time driving two critical imperatives:
Learn how to enable business growth by:
• Quickly deploying new online services
• Leveraging new advances in cloud computing and virtualization
• Accommodating the needs of demanding, tech-savvy users
(i.e., customers, partners, employees, etc.)
• Driving greater employee productivity and increasing business intelligence
Protect the business by:
• Mitigating the risk of fraud, breaches, insider threats and improper access – from both internal and external sources
• Safeguarding critical systems, applications and data
Download the eBook today to learn more.
Selleks, et julgeks andmed pilveteenusesse viia, peab esmalt teenusepakkujat usaldama. Mida on Microsoft ära teinud selleks, et klientide usaldust võita? Kuidas hoida andmeid pilve-Exchange’is ja pilve-SharePointis turvaliselt, jagada välja krüpteeritult ning põhjalikult kontrollida süsteemide kasutajate volitusi.
Looking to secure your website? Don’t forget about SSL certificates. Read our blog to learn what they are and how you can obtain one. https://www.webguru-india.com/blog/ssl-certificates/
White paper - Full SSL automation with OneClickSSLGlobalSign
SSL Automation from application to installation
GlobalSign has designed, developed and patented OneClickSSL™, a revolutionary technology that simplifies the process from SSL application to installation with levels of automation previously considered impossible – eliminating support fees and minimizing time spent supporting customers.
Learn how the OneClickSSL technology works, the deployment options and use cases and how to generate new revenues with OneClickSSL.
Website Security Certification The Key to Keeping Your Website SafePixlogix Infotech
Explore a fortified digital realm with our Website Security Certification services. Safeguard your online presence with cutting-edge security measures tailored to shield your website from potential threats. Our comprehensive certification ensures robust protection, instilling trust among visitors and fortifying your digital assets.
Elevate your website's resilience with state-of-the-art security protocols, providing a secure environment for seamless user experiences. Dive into a world where cybersecurity meets excellence, ensuring your website remains impervious to vulnerabilities. Embrace the future of digital safety and fortify your online fortress with our Website Security Certification.
SMBs are fast at adapting to innovation and change, cloud computing has grabbed the spotlight for safer business with data security solutions. Know how today's business can reap and adopt cloud security features for public cloud.
Build and Operate Your Own Certificate Management Center of MediocrityT.Rob Wyatt
Building and operating a robust internal Certificate Authority is difficult and expensive. Fortunately, building a Certificate Authority Center of Mediocrity (CACOM) is *much* cheaper, and can be done in your spare time. Follow these instructions to create your own CACOM or to discover if you already have one.
In an era where the digital landscape dominates our daily lives, online security has become paramount. The importance of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) cannot be overstated when it comes to safeguarding sensitive information on the internet.
Similar to The Hidden Costs of Self-Signed SSL Certificates (20)
What is Asymmetric Encryption? Understand with Simple ExamplesCheapSSLsecurity
Learn what is Asymmetric Encryption and how asymmetric encryption works with examples. Also, demystify the difference between asymmetric vs symmetric encryption.
TLS 1.3: Everything You Need to Know - CheapSSLsecurityCheapSSLsecurity
TLS 1.3 has been passed as a web standard by IETF and it comes with significant advancements. Learn how it could make our virtual world safer and faster.
How to Fix ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH ErrorCheapSSLsecurity
ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH is one of the most commonly encountered errors when it comes to web browsing. If your site is facing the ERR_SSL_VERSION_OR_CIPHER_MISMATCH error, we’ve got the solutions. Get rid of the error in minutes, we’re not even kidding!
Apache Server: Common SSL Errors and Troubleshooting GuideCheapSSLsecurity
Have an Apache server? Facing an SSL related problem? Don’t worry, as we bring you the Apache SSL Errors and Troubleshooting Guide that will help you solve every SSL problem within minutes, without any hassle.
Multi Domain Wildcard Features explained by CheapSSLsecurityCheapSSLsecurity
Multi Domain Wildcard SSL certificate explained in detail by CheapSSLsecurity, understand its premium features, benefits, certificate authority types, etc.
List of Various OpenSSL Commands and KeyTool that are used to check/generate CSR, Self Sign Certificate, Private key, convert CSR, convert certificate, etc...
What is Certificate Transparency (CT)? How does it work?CheapSSLsecurity
Certificate Transparency is Google’s initiative to make SSL certificate issuance process more transparent and minimize damages due to mis-issuance. Learn how it works.
Let’s understand about the “2017 Norton Cyber Security Insights Report”, the main topics of this reports are Cybercrime by the Numbers, Portrait of a Cybercrime Victim, Consumers’ Contradicting Beliefs, and State of Consumers’ Trust.
2017 was the year for Cyber Criminals, Multiple Cyber attacks, data breaches, and vulnerabilities. Let us understand the Cybersecurity Threats for 2018.
Is your business PCI DSS compliant? You’re digging your own grave if notCheapSSLsecurity
According to the latest report by Verizon, every organization that suffered from a data breach during 2010 to 2016 wasn’t fully PCI DSS compliant. Is yours?
Symantec (ISTR) Internet Security Threat Report Volume 22CheapSSLsecurity
Symantec’s Internet Security Threat Report (ISTR) demonstrates how simple tactics and innovative cyber criminals led to unprecedented outcomes in global threat activity.
Understanding SSL Certificate for Apps by SymantecCheapSSLsecurity
All the vital knowledge on the importance of SSL certificate for App security, how chain building works during SSL handshake and pro tips to build a Certificate chain.
Learn everything about Thawte Wildcard SSL Certificate including its features and benefits. Understand how Thawte Wildcard SSL certificate is important for a Business.
Shift to HTTPS and Save Your Website from the Wrath of BlacklistingCheapSSLsecurity
Google Chrome and Firefox and blacklisting Non-HTTP website which asks for Login Credentials, Understand to Shift to HTTPS shield against browser challenges.
Microsoft Exchange Server & SSL Certificates: Everything you need to knowCheapSSLsecurity
Require the best SSL Certificate for your Microsoft Exchange Server? here is the best guide each user should learn about SSL Certificate & Exchange Server.
Comodo Multi Domain SSL Certificate: Key Features by CheapSSLsecurityCheapSSLsecurity
Learn what is Comodo Multi Domain SSL certificate, how it works, understand its key features along with the encryption process of protecting multiple domains under a single certificate.
Software Delivery At the Speed of AI: Inflectra Invests In AI-Powered QualityInflectra
In this insightful webinar, Inflectra explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming software development and testing. Discover how AI-powered tools are revolutionizing every stage of the software development lifecycle (SDLC), from design and prototyping to testing, deployment, and monitoring.
Learn about:
• The Future of Testing: How AI is shifting testing towards verification, analysis, and higher-level skills, while reducing repetitive tasks.
• Test Automation: How AI-powered test case generation, optimization, and self-healing tests are making testing more efficient and effective.
• Visual Testing: Explore the emerging capabilities of AI in visual testing and how it's set to revolutionize UI verification.
• Inflectra's AI Solutions: See demonstrations of Inflectra's cutting-edge AI tools like the ChatGPT plugin and Azure Open AI platform, designed to streamline your testing process.
Whether you're a developer, tester, or QA professional, this webinar will give you valuable insights into how AI is shaping the future of software delivery.
Slack (or Teams) Automation for Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Soluti...Jeffrey Haguewood
Sidekick Solutions uses Bonterra Impact Management (fka Social Solutions Apricot) and automation solutions to integrate data for business workflows.
We believe integration and automation are essential to user experience and the promise of efficient work through technology. Automation is the critical ingredient to realizing that full vision. We develop integration products and services for Bonterra Case Management software to support the deployment of automations for a variety of use cases.
This video focuses on the notifications, alerts, and approval requests using Slack for Bonterra Impact Management. The solutions covered in this webinar can also be deployed for Microsoft Teams.
Interested in deploying notification automations for Bonterra Impact Management? Contact us at sales@sidekicksolutionsllc.com to discuss next steps.
Transcript: Selling digital books in 2024: Insights from industry leaders - T...BookNet Canada
The publishing industry has been selling digital audiobooks and ebooks for over a decade and has found its groove. What’s changed? What has stayed the same? Where do we go from here? Join a group of leading sales peers from across the industry for a conversation about the lessons learned since the popularization of digital books, best practices, digital book supply chain management, and more.
Link to video recording: https://bnctechforum.ca/sessions/selling-digital-books-in-2024-insights-from-industry-leaders/
Presented by BookNet Canada on May 28, 2024, with support from the Department of Canadian Heritage.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 4DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 4. In this session, we will cover Test Manager overview along with SAP heatmap.
The UiPath Test Manager overview with SAP heatmap webinar offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the role of a Test Manager within SAP environments, coupled with the utilization of heatmaps for effective testing strategies.
Participants will gain insights into the responsibilities, challenges, and best practices associated with test management in SAP projects. Additionally, the webinar delves into the significance of heatmaps as a visual aid for identifying testing priorities, areas of risk, and resource allocation within SAP landscapes. Through this session, attendees can expect to enhance their understanding of test management principles while learning practical approaches to optimize testing processes in SAP environments using heatmap visualization techniques
What will you get from this session?
1. Insights into SAP testing best practices
2. Heatmap utilization for testing
3. Optimization of testing processes
4. Demo
Topics covered:
Execution from the test manager
Orchestrator execution result
Defect reporting
SAP heatmap example with demo
Speaker:
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey 2024 by 91mobiles.pdf91mobiles
91mobiles recently conducted a Smart TV Buyer Insights Survey in which we asked over 3,000 respondents about the TV they own, aspects they look at on a new TV, and their TV buying preferences.
GraphRAG is All You need? LLM & Knowledge GraphGuy Korland
Guy Korland, CEO and Co-founder of FalkorDB, will review two articles on the integration of language models with knowledge graphs.
1. Unifying Large Language Models and Knowledge Graphs: A Roadmap.
https://arxiv.org/abs/2306.08302
2. Microsoft Research's GraphRAG paper and a review paper on various uses of knowledge graphs:
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/research/blog/graphrag-unlocking-llm-discovery-on-narrative-private-data/
Elevating Tactical DDD Patterns Through Object CalisthenicsDorra BARTAGUIZ
After immersing yourself in the blue book and its red counterpart, attending DDD-focused conferences, and applying tactical patterns, you're left with a crucial question: How do I ensure my design is effective? Tactical patterns within Domain-Driven Design (DDD) serve as guiding principles for creating clear and manageable domain models. However, achieving success with these patterns requires additional guidance. Interestingly, we've observed that a set of constraints initially designed for training purposes remarkably aligns with effective pattern implementation, offering a more ‘mechanical’ approach. Let's explore together how Object Calisthenics can elevate the design of your tactical DDD patterns, offering concrete help for those venturing into DDD for the first time!
Essentials of Automations: Optimizing FME Workflows with ParametersSafe Software
Are you looking to streamline your workflows and boost your projects’ efficiency? Do you find yourself searching for ways to add flexibility and control over your FME workflows? If so, you’re in the right place.
Join us for an insightful dive into the world of FME parameters, a critical element in optimizing workflow efficiency. This webinar marks the beginning of our three-part “Essentials of Automation” series. This first webinar is designed to equip you with the knowledge and skills to utilize parameters effectively: enhancing the flexibility, maintainability, and user control of your FME projects.
Here’s what you’ll gain:
- Essentials of FME Parameters: Understand the pivotal role of parameters, including Reader/Writer, Transformer, User, and FME Flow categories. Discover how they are the key to unlocking automation and optimization within your workflows.
- Practical Applications in FME Form: Delve into key user parameter types including choice, connections, and file URLs. Allow users to control how a workflow runs, making your workflows more reusable. Learn to import values and deliver the best user experience for your workflows while enhancing accuracy.
- Optimization Strategies in FME Flow: Explore the creation and strategic deployment of parameters in FME Flow, including the use of deployment and geometry parameters, to maximize workflow efficiency.
- Pro Tips for Success: Gain insights on parameterizing connections and leveraging new features like Conditional Visibility for clarity and simplicity.
We’ll wrap up with a glimpse into future webinars, followed by a Q&A session to address your specific questions surrounding this topic.
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your FME expertise and drive your projects to new heights of efficiency.
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 3DianaGray10
Welcome to UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series part 3. In this session, we will cover desktop automation along with UI automation.
Topics covered:
UI automation Introduction,
UI automation Sample
Desktop automation flow
Pradeep Chinnala, Senior Consultant Automation Developer @WonderBotz and UiPath MVP
Deepak Rai, Automation Practice Lead, Boundaryless Group and UiPath MVP
UiPath Test Automation using UiPath Test Suite series, part 3
The Hidden Costs of Self-Signed SSL Certificates
1. The Hidden Costs of Self-
Signed SSL Certificates
WHY SELF-SIGNED CERTIFICATES ARE MUCH COSTLIER – AND RISKIER – THAN
WORKING WITH A TRUSTED SECURITY VENDOR
2. 2
The Hidden Costs of Self-Signed
SSL Certificates
Even when business is booming, smart companies always
have an eye on the bottom line. Security is not usually one
of the first places companies look to trim expenses, but some
IT professionals believe that they can easily lower costs by
eliminating third-party Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) Certification
Authorities (CAs) from the budget equation.
Although spending money on SSL security for external facing
sites–such as the company home page or e-commerce pages –
seems necessary, some IT professionals think that self-signed
SSL certificates are an acceptable alternative for internal sites.
They believe that, since only internal employees have access
to servers that host internal-facing sites such as intranet portals
and wikis, self-signed certificates provide adequate protection at
practically no cost.
However, this kind of reasoning can backfire – badly.
The Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of an SSL certificate is
far more than just the price of the certificate. From security
hardware, to management software, to data center space and
more, the costs of establishing a secure self-signing architecture
can quickly add up. Not only that, but a do-it-yourself approach to
SSL security may put an organization at risk – from both technical
and business perspectives–in a variety of ways.
This paper explores the true TCO for self-signed SSL certificates,
including a side-by-side comparison of a self-signed architecture
versus working with a third-party SSL vendor. Before a company
decides to use self-signed certificates, these issues deserve
careful consideration.
Third-Party Verified Versus Self-Signed
Certificates
When the SSL protocol debuted in 1995, the world finally
had a foundation for a safe and secure way to transact
business over the web. Since then, SSL has evolved to be
the single most important authentication protocol used in web-
based transactions.
Why is SSL necessary? Most web traffic goes over the Internet
in an unencrypted form. This means that anyone with sufficient
technical expertise and tools can easily “eavesdrop” on the
conversations between two parties. SSL security encrypts the
data moving between a web server and a browser, making it
extremely difficult to intercept and decode the information.
However, SSL security goes beyond mere encryption. From a
purely technical perspective, Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) does
an excellent job of safeguarding data transfers, but it leaves a
gaping hole in the security of a transaction. How can parties to
the transaction be sure they are communicating with the proper
participants? For example, if a customer is trying to purchase
an expensive camera at the web site of an online retailer, the
business must be able to confirm its identity to the customer.
Otherwise, the customer’s credit card information is encrypted
when in transit, but if the retailer’s web site has been spoofed, all
of that well-encrypted data may be sent to a cybercriminal who
can easily decrypt it.
This is where the importance of third-party validation is most
apparent. A certificate signed by a trusted, independent CA helps
ensure the organization that owns the certificate is indeed what it
claims to be.
From a technical standpoint, however, third-party validation is not
essential for SSL security to function. Organizations can “self-
sign” certificates. When companies use self-signed certificates, in
effect they are saying, “I verify that I am myself. Trust me.”
However, to standard web browsers such as Internet Explorer
and Firefox, this guarantee is meaningless. Users who try to
access a site “protected” with a self-signed certificate will usually
get an error message that says the signing entity is unknown
and not trusted. Not surprisingly, this kind of message scares off
potential customers, partners, and other stakeholders. For this
reason, few businesses will self-sign external-facing web sites.
Retaining user trust is simply too important.
3. 3
Internal-facing sites and servers, on the other hand, present a
different use case scenario for SSL certificates. Corporate email
servers, Human Resource (HR) portals, wikis for individual
project management, software development sandboxes – these
are just a few of the internal sites and servers that are often the
primary candidates for internal certificates. Do organizations
really need third-party signed certificates when only employees
access these areas? Once again, when a business uses a self-
signed certificate, it asks its employees to trust that its systems
are secure. Even if they will – should they?
The High Cost of Infrastructure for SSL
Security
DATA CENTERS AND PHYSICAL SECURITY
Self-signed certificates are inherently less trustworthy than those
signed by leading CAs. Reputable third-party CAs have robust
processes in place to help ensure that their encryption keys,
especially their highly sensitive private “root” keys, are kept safe.
For these CAs, security is always a top priority: Personnel are
rigorously vetted and highly trained, and these CAs have strict
policies concerning where private keys are stored. In fact, if a CA
wants to be approved by mainstream web browsers, these keys
must be kept on non-extractible storage on smart cards.
To offer strong SSL security, a CA must also provide high-
availability and failover mechanisms to prevent system failure.
This helps to ensure that it can provide the proper authentication
on demand whenever users need it.
Replicating this infrastructure to match the high security
standards in place at leading CAs requires a number of costly
components. First, an organization must have High-Availability
(HA) replication of the SSL system and data. A second, related
requirement is that this replication must be achieved using
two different secure rooms in two different data centers in two
separate locations. This helps to ensure that if one data center
goes down, due to power loss or other unforeseen factors, the
other will be there to provide backup authentication. Without
replication across data centers, servers and browsers would not
be able to complete the authentication process and vital SSL-
protected transactions – such as credit card purchases at an
e-commerce site or uploading new employee information to an
HR portal – would stop.
Moreover, the data centers housing the SSL systems and data
themselves also need to be secure, which means establishing
strict physical security measures. In addition to screening
employees who would have physical access to data rooms,
these extra precautions would include installing key card readers
to grant entry to locked areas, mounting video surveillance
cameras, and even hiring security guards to do regular walk-
bys. If an unauthorized person gained access to these restricted
rooms, he or she could obtain the key to crack encrypted data,
once again putting transactions at risk.
The basic cost for a secure, one-rack colocation data center
room – with all connectivity and utilities included–can range
from $1,000 to more than $10,000 per month.1
Adding more
racks, increasing bandwidth, or utilizing technical support can
raise costs even more, often by hundreds of dollars. Not only
that, but all of these expenses will double to replicate data in
two data centers. Clearly, the costs of maintaining the physical
infrastructure and security needed to protect SSL encryption
and authentication processes are more than many businesses
can afford.
HARDWARE COMPONENTS
Although you can easily acquire free or very low-cost software
that will allow you to generate self-signed SSL certificates, you
will still need a Hardware Security Module (HSM) for each data
center to manage encryption. And each HSM will need to be
under a support contract to ensure business continuity.
An SSL HSM is a secure crypto-processor – a physical piece
of hardware–dedicated to managing digital keys and for
authenticating private keys in a PKI SSL protocol system. An
HSM has three purposes. First, it securely generates public and
private keys for encrypting transactions over the web. Second,
it securely stores keys in a way that prevents them from being
extracted. Third, it allows companies to manage sensitive
cryptographic data.
HSMs are highly specialized pieces of hardware that are usually
quite expensive, ranging from $13,000 on the low end to upwards
of $30,000 each. Once again, for purposes of replication and
achieving high availability, any SSL infrastructure needs at least
two HSMs, one for each data center.
1. Multiple sources: http://www.hostventures.com/colocationprices.html, http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2011/02/11/analysis-colocation-pricing-trends/
4. 4
Finally, companies use HSMs to offload application servers for
both asymmetric and symmetric cryptography, though this is less
relevant today. Even though the National Institute of Standards
and Technology (NIST) recommends that companies use 2048-
bit RSA keys, SSL encryption does not significantly affect
system performance.
MANAGEMENT AND PERSONNEL
Beyond pure hardware costs, the time and expense associated
with finding and training skilled professionals to manage self-
signed SSL security – as well as to create policies to govern the
use of SSL certificates – are also a major consideration.
Tools that allow you to self-sign certificates – such as Microsoft
Certificate Authority – do not include certificate management
functionality. Given that, organizations will need to plan and
implement robust processes to help ensure that SSL protocols
are being strictly followed. Without such safeguards, anyone
could ask for an SSL certificate and receive it, which in turn
would allow anyone to spoof a supposedly “secure” site at will.
First, an organization needs to carefully control who has the
authority to create and sign certificates for its domains, and
establish processes for ensuring that this is done according to
established policies. Such policies would include requiring that
only personnel of sufficient tenure and trust have authority to
create and sign certificates, and that they are adequately trained
in best practices, standards, and technologies. This authority
should not be given lightly, and a clear audit trail is needed in
case an investigation is ever required.
Second, leading third-party CAs typically offer web-based
applications with easy-to-use management interfaces that
automate and accelerate many processes, including delegating
authority for creating certificates and approving certificates for
signing by the CA. Certificate Signing Requests (CSRs) must
eventually be approved by someone vested with authority
for a particular domain. Trusted CAs have robust automated
procedures in place to help ensure that all of this occurs
as prescribed.
Third, if an organization decides to use self-signed certificates,
it will need processes similar to those described above. Some
businesses attempt to automate the SSL security workflow by
writing custom software, but many simply attempt to manually
manage the processes. This takes a considerable amount of time
and effort from highly skilled and trusted staff – which may mean
more highly paid senior employees.
Fourth, without the management tools and alerts that often come
with certificates from a trusted CA, organizations will not be
notified when certificates expire. The expiration of self-signed
certificates – as well as their renewal – will need to be tracked
manually, an extremely time consuming task that can take skilled
personnel away from other mission-critical work. The cost of
expired SSL Certificates is unacceptably high; “rogue” certificates
can create an uneven patchwork of security, leading to warning
messages that may negatively impact customers and internal
stakeholders alike.
Finally, with software-only encryption, visibility into status can
be severely limited. Unless the keys are stored in hardware,
organizations cannot guarantee that it knows how many
keys exist and who has had access to them. If the network is
compromised, a company has no way of knowing if a key was
copied off-site and is being compromised as well.
After all, keys are essentially just files, and file servers, virtual
file systems and servers, and Storage Area Networks (SANs), or
Network Attached Storage (NAS) systems, can be backed up,
duplicated, and replicated. That makes it difficult to know how
many copies of a key exist and where they are located. It’s
also more difficult to control access to them and harder to
enforce policies.
When keys are stored in hardware, as in an HSM, the keys are
typically generated on these devices – which in itself means the
keys are stronger – and they never leave the device. This means
organizations always know exactly where the keys are and how
many copies exist. They can enforce better policies to the keys
as many HSMs allow the use of strong, two-factor authentication
for policy-based access, such as limiting the signing of
certificates to those times when two authorized persons
are present.
Retaining personnel who possess the right talent and expertise to
perform all of these management tasks is expensive. According
to ComputerWorld’s IT Salary Survey 2011,2
mid-level security
professionals earn approximately $100,000 a year. Depending
on the size of an organization, the expense of hiring even
one experienced worker could raise the cost of self-signed
SSL security above a reasonable threshold, particularly when
compared to the cost of using a trusted third-party SSL vendor.
2. April, 2011. http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9214739/Salary_Survey_2011.
5. 5
A company could always choose to outsource infrastructure
management, but this tactic not only adds additional cost, it
also raises other key questions: Who is going to manage the
outsourcer? What happens if the outsourcer makes costly
mistakes? Adding to these concerns, infrastructure outsourcers
are notoriously difficult to replace given the dependencies that
such relationships create.
Technical and Business Risks of a Do-It-
Yourself SSL Security Strategy
In addition to all the “hard” costs an organization may accrue with
self-signed SSL certificates, it also faces increased operational
risks. Although difficult to quantify, these dangers can add up to
substantial expenses if not mitigated.
Some of these risks are technical, including the potential for
security breaches that can happen at both ends of the encryption/
decryption process if the environment is not secured properly.
In addition, it is extremely difficult to revoke certificates in
unmanaged, self-signed certificate schemes.
Business risks are arguably even more serious than technical
ones. Most of these perils involve building trust with customers
and end users. Trust is critical for any web-based transaction,
whether it’s online banking or uploading personally identifiable
information to an internal employee portal.
Although the true value of trust is difficult to quantify, not winning
the trust of potential customers could be disastrous to revenues.
For an internal site, like an HR portal, a lack of trust among
employees – who might wonder if their salary histories and other
personal data are truly secure – could impact worker morale
and productivity.
Another factor to consider is the warranty protection that a
third-party SSL vendor can provide. These warranties can range
anywhere from $10,000 to $750,000 (or more) and are meant
to compensate a business if a data breach occurs. Self-signed
certificates do not provide warranty guarantees.
In addition, a risk of using self-signed certificates internally is that,
over time, employees may start to ignore security warnings given
by their browsers and begin to add untrusted certificates to their
browsers’ store of trusted certificates. Not only can this potentially
compromise internal networks and systems, but it can also
create a lax attitude toward security across the organization and
undermine general policies meant to safeguard internal systems.
Finally, with self-signed certificates, organizations are also
more at risk of Advanced Persistent Threats (APTs), or attacks
with multiple attack vectors, because of the security processes
and measures that third-party CAs put into place that are often
lacking with internal CAs. For example, the server that the CA is
stored and run from might be attached to the same network as
other systems, with no additional physical security boundaries.
Internal CAs often don’t have biometric access control for the
use of the root key that is used to generate certificates. All of
this adds up to lower security and less due-diligence in the way
certificates are issued. In short, organizations operate under a
false sense of security.
Adding Up the Overall Total Cost of
Ownership (TCO)
There are numerous components that make up a strong,
reliable SSL security infrastructure. Here is a quick, side-by-
side comparison of the costs associated with self-signed SSL
Certificates and SSL certificates provided by Thawte, a leading
provider of SSL security:
Self-Signed Certificates (annually) SSL Certificates from Thawte3
SSL certificates No additional cost $87 - $227/certificate
Replicated data center facilities $24,000 - $240,000 Included
Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) and
related software and maintenance fees
$26,000 - $60,000 Included
Management/personnel costs $100,000 full-time equivalent employee Included
TOTAL $150,000 - $400,000 annually
$88,000 - $230,000 (assuming
1000 certificates)
3 Annual costs based on 1,000 SSL certificates given Thawte prices as of June 2012. Prices subject to change without notice.