What are Transport Layer Security (TLS) and Secure Socket Layer (SSL)?

Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol that protects Internet communications. The TLS protocol aims primarily to provide security, including privacy (confidentiality), integrity, and authenticity through the use of cryptography, such as the use of certificates, between two or more communicating computer applications. It runs in the presentation layer and is itself composed of two layers: the TLS record and the TLS handshake protocols.

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a security protocol that creates an encrypted link between a web server and a web browser. Companies and organizations need to add SSL certificates to their websites to secure online transactions and keep customer information private and secure.

Benefits of TLS/SSL security protocols

Ensuring that any data transferred is impossible to read. 

Utilising encryption algorithms to scramble data in transit, preventing hackers from reading it as it is sent over the connection.

Can be used to protect any sensitive or personal data including credit card numbers, other financial information names and addresses

The enablement of secure internet connections

Safeguarding sensitive data that is being sent between two systems

Preventing unwanted third parties from reading and modifying any information transferred, including potential personal details,

For complete security, it is necessary to use TLS/SSL protocols in conjunction with a publicly trusted X.509 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in order to authenticate that a system to which a connection is being made is indeed what it claims to be.