Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) is a cryptographic protocol that provides security for communication over the network by encrypting segments of network connections at the transport layer end-to-end. The purpose for SSL is to allow client-server applications to communicate in a secure fashion across the network—preventing eavesdropping, tampering, and message spoofing. In Oracle, authentication is supported by using Oracle Advanced Security with digital certificates over SSL, as well as additional capabilities of these products. The use of Oracle Advanced Security over SSL helps secure communications in a client-server environment by encryption between a client and server, as well as authenticating the client or server.

To learn how Oracle Advanced Security and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) can be used to tighten security for both network traffic and for communication between user and database, read this article at our sister site, DatabaseJournal.