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Transport Layer Security

nounverified·updated May 9, 2026

An authentication and security protocol widely implemented in browsers and Web servers.

MWENISTIR 7298: Glossary of Key Information Security Terms, Revision 2

Senses

SANS Glossary of Security Terms

A protocol that ensures privacy between communicating applications and their users on the Internet. When a server and client communicate, TLS ensures that no third party may eavesdrop or tamper with any message. TLS is the successor to the Secure Sockets Layer.

ISACA Cybersecurity Glossary

A protocol that provides communications privacy over the Internet. The protocol allows client/server applications to communicate in a way that is designed to prevent eavesdropping, tampering, or message forgery. (RFC 2246) Scope Note: Transport Layer Security (TLS) is composed of two layers: the TLS Record Protocol and the TLS Handshake Protocol. The TLS Record Protocol provides connection security with some encryption method such as the Data Encryption Standard (DES). The TLS Record Protocol can also be used without encryption. The TLS Handshake Protocol allows the server and client to authenticate each other and to negotiate an encryption algorithm and cryptographic keys before data is exchanged.

NIST SP 800-171r3acronym list

TLS: Transport Layer Security

Classifications

Entity Type

Network92%llm-generatedllm:claude-haiku-4-5
?unassignedlast reviewed

Sensitivity

unclassified

Information Class

unclassified

Variants

acronym
TLS
plural
Transport Layer Securities
possessive
Transport Layer Security's
pluralpossessive
Transport Layer Securities'