Browser-based SSL alternatives require little or no software
on remote PCs, and in most cases any PC with a browser can
be used to make the secure connection, as long as the user can
authenticate to a central server. And SSL firewall ports that
the traffic uses are generally left open, so firewall
reconfiguring is usually unnecessary. The idea is that SSL’s
simplicity translates into an easier installation and long-term
cost savings because of simpler ongoing support.
SSL relies on certificates - digital identification cards - and
keys.
Certificates include the name of the certificate authority that
issued the certificate, the name of the entity to which the
certificate was issued, the entity’s public key, and time stamps
that indicate the certificate’s expiration date.