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TLS Protocol Versions
Understanding TLS protocol versions and which ones to use for secure connections.
TLS Protocol Versions
TLS has evolved through multiple versions, each improving security and performance. Understanding which versions to support is crucial for security.
TLS Version History
Current Recommendations
**Minimum**: TLS 1.2
**Recommended**: TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3
**Avoid**: TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, SSL 3.0
TLS 1.3 Benefits
Configuration Examples
Nginx
ssl_protocols TLSv1.2 TLSv1.3;
Apache
SSLProtocol all -SSLv3 -TLSv1 -TLSv1.1
Key Points
- •TLS 1.2 is minimum secure version
- •TLS 1.3 offers best security and performance
- •Older versions are vulnerable
- •Support both 1.2 and 1.3 for compatibility
- •Test protocol support regularly
Best Practices
- ✓Disable TLS 1.0 and 1.1
- ✓Enable TLS 1.2 and 1.3
- ✓Test with SSL Labs
- ✓Monitor protocol usage
- ✓Document protocol support
Common Issues
- ✗Supporting deprecated protocols
- ✗Not enabling TLS 1.3
- ✗Breaking older clients unnecessarily
- ✗Missing protocol configuration
- ✗Inconsistent server configurations