Profiles

Microsoft and nCipher have worked to provide seamless integration between Microsoft ISA Server and nCipher’s range of SSL Accelerators and FIPS validated Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) enabling organizations to alleviate processing bottlenecks, and with the HSM to gain control over the cryptographic keys.

Microsoft ISA Server and nCipher – Protecting a secure infrastructure

Security and subsequently performance understandably become areas of concern within an organization when connecting internal networks to the internet.

Such concerns have contributed to the accelerated uptake of SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) the powerful session level security that has emerged as the ubiquitous way that data crossing the internet and private networks is protected.
SSL protocol employs the use of public key technology to encrypt and decrypt, a process which places a significant burden on a servers’ CPU, and in addition when managed according to best practices, requires comprehensive administration.

Performance

Heavy SSL traffic can cause processing bottlenecks that overwhelm even the most powerful servers – dramatically impacting the overall performance of your service and ultimately, the loyalty of your customers.

Enhanced Security

At the same time, failure to protect the private keys used by the SSL protocol can result in ‘eavesdropping’ attacks where a stolen key is used to tap an online transaction or unscramble previous exchanges, or ‘spoofing’ attacks, where a stolen key is used to impersonate your legitimate identity. These types of crimes can go undetected, placing a user and the service at risk.

To put these ‘risks’ in context – consider that IDC (the International Data Corporation) supports the proposition that 100% of online business transactions and e-commerce activities will eventually be conducted over encrypted links.