Cybersecurity is a complex and growing field. It can be challenging to know where to begin as a novice developer mTLS. We’ll discuss mTLS in detail and how developers can exploit it.mTLS (Transport Layer Security) is an extension to TLS. This is used to verify endpoints, encrypt communications, and specifically browsers for TLS. This is evidenced by the ‘HTTPS” in URLs. This is part of the URL that verifies the Server’s identity (or website). TLS is managed by a cryptographic certificate rather than a password one user manually enters. TLS protocols typically demonstrate this with an “x509” certificate.
MLS is different and arguably more secure because it requires the client and Server to verify each other. This is called a handshake. This is especially useful when you are the Server and not the client. It’s lightweight and flexible, making it ideal for edge devices. Typically, the client requests a valid certificate from the Server (the DNS name must match the certificate). Secure Sockets Layer security (SSL) is based on this principle. HTTPS is its successor.
It might seem a little too complicated. WoTT has its own Certificate Authority. We also have examples of how to use the CA to secure mTLS connections. To get familiar with the concept, we encourage you to test it. Our agent is light and can be used on servers and other devices. There are many ways to implement an MTLS-style security layer. You can find several examples with varying difficulty levels to help you get started.
This tutorial demonstrates how to use mTLS to protect a Web Application with WoTT’s agent acting as a manager. It is straightforward to implement. For more information, please visit this link. We have a tutorial for Nginx servers to help you set up mTLS using our CA. You can find it here—recommendation after the Nginx tutorial. You may need to increase the security of a Kubernetes cluster. You can learn more about Kubernetes security with mTLS and WoTT by clicking here.
It is important to remember that your certificate authority must be used to configure your system. WoTT can provide one. These examples can be modified at will. You don’t have to learn how mTLS works. Instead, you can skip to the end and explore WoTT. You can also find other articles about using your agent with your system. You may be curious about how mTLS works. First, mTLS can be configured. The Server and client can decide which certificates are ‘trustworthy.’ In our examples, the system was set up only to trust WoTT-provided certificates. However, you have the option to add other CA-provided credentials. The developer can decide. How does it work? Although we have already mentioned the concept of a “handshake,” this is the actual name for the technology TLS uses.
The protocol/handshake is where cryptographic magic happens. It controls the encryption algorithm (also known as a cipher) and public key exchange, which are contained in a certificate—the Certificate Authority signs for this certificate, giving an endpoint its cryptographic identity. The Server being accessed is associated with an x509 certificate issued by a CA. This certificate is exchanged using the handshake protocol. This certificate includes the Server’s name, public key, and signature. It is traded in this handshake protocol.
Each endpoint then verifies the certificate according to the CA’s signature, which is its provider. It’s the same with mTLS except that both the client and Server verify each other, so each endpoint is issued an x509 cert. The CA can be considered a vouch for a device’s identity. Although the TLS handshake protocol is available here, it’s lengthy and complicated. It is essential to understand that the TLS protocol is part of a multilayered structure. It sits between the application (also known as TCP) layers.