Chapter 9. SSL and Certificate Services

The most widespread concern with the Internet is not the limited amount of bandwidth or the occasional objectionable content, but the imperative need for security when transferring data. The most common implementation of security on the Internet today is the use of digital certificates. Digital certificates can guarantee the identity of a client or server across an untrusted network and also can encrypt data. This chapter discusses the technology behind security as well as tools provided by Microsoft for ensuring Internet security.

This chapter covers the following topics:

• Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and why it is fundamental to security

• Encryption and its role with both clients and servers

• A description of and recommendations for client certificate mapping

• Certificates and certificate authorities on the Internet

• A complete walk-though of the installation of Microsoft Certification Authority Server