THE ROLE OF TLS/SSL PROTOCOLS IN ENSURING SECURITY IN ENTERPRISE INFRASTRUCTURES

Abstract

This article examines the key role that TLS/SSL protocols play in ensuring information security in enterprise infrastructures. In the modern digital environment, protecting the confidentiality, integrity, and authentication of data transmitted over the Internet is one of the priority issues for enterprises. TLS/SSL protocols act as the main cryptographic mechanisms that meet these requirements. The article first explains the technical basis of TLS/SSL, encryption methods, the TLS handshake process, and certificate infrastructure (PKI). Then, the application directions of the protocol in web servers, email systems, VPN solutions, APIs, and cloud environments are analyzed. Attack vectors and historical vulnerabilities (MITM, downgrade, Heartbleed, etc.) applied to TLS/SSL are examined with practical examples. Finally, best practices for the correct implementation, secure configuration, and management and monitoring of TLS/SSL on an enterprise scale are presented. The results of the study show that TLS/SSL protocols are an integral part of the cybersecurity strategy of organizations and, if implemented correctly, significantly increase data security