Administration Guide › Set Up Authentication › Authentication Levels › SSL Authentication

SSL Authentication

Strong authentication uses SSL certificates to protect LDAP and X.500 access by encrypting data with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) security. When certificate-based authentication is used, all communication on the binding set up by the bind use SSL encryption.

SSL certificate based authentication is typically used in environments where personal or company data requires protection, for example, an online banking environment.

SSL authentication has two parts:

• The SSL connection
• The directory connection (using a bind)

Two variants are allowed:

• Simple SSL
• Authenticated SSL

Simple SSL authenticates the server only, while Authenticated SSL authenticates both the client and the server.