Introduction to SSL Certificates, Server Certificates

This section explains how secure sockets layer (SSL) are used in the NAS system. It also explains how to use your own certificate, if you have one, and how to regenerate your certificate.

Introduction to SSL Certificates

Certificates contain information used to establish system identities over a network. This identification process is called authentication. Although authentication is similar to conventional forms of identification, certificates enable Web servers and users to authenticate each other before establishing a connection to create more secure communications. Certificates also contain encryption values, or keys, that are used in establishing an SSL connection between the client and server. Information, such as a credit card number, sent over this connection is encrypted so that it cannot be intercepted and used by unauthorized parties.

Two types of certificates are used in SSL. Each type has its own format and purpose. Client certificates contain personal information about the clients requesting access to your site, which allows you to positively identify them before allowing them access to the site. Server certificates contain information about the server, which allows the client to positively identify the server before sharing sensitive information.

Server Certificates

To activate your Web server's SSL 3.0 security features, you must obtain and install a valid server certificate. Server certificates are digital identifications containing information about your Web server and the organization sponsoring the server's Web content. A server certificate enables users to authenticate your server, check the validity of Web content, and establish a secure connection. The server certificate also contains a public key, which is used in creating a secure connection between the client and server.

The success of a server certificate as a means of identification depends on whether the user trusts the validity of information contained in the certificate. For example, a user logging on to your company's website might be hesitant to provide credit card information, despite having viewed the contents of your company's server certificate. This might be especially true if your company is new and not well known.

For this reason, certificates are sometimes issued and endorsed by a mutually trusted, third-party organization, called a certification authority. The certification authority's primary responsibility is confirming the identity of those seeking a certificate, thus ensuring the validity of the identification information contained in the certificate.

Alternatively, depending on your organization's relationship with its website users, you can issue your own server certificates. For example, in the case of a large corporate intranet handling employee payroll and benefits information, corporate management might decide to maintain a certificate server and assume responsibility for validating identification information and issuing server certificates. For more information, see "Obtaining a Server Certificate From a Certification Authority."

PowerVault 745N Certificate

By default, your NAS system has a self-generated and self-signed certificate. The configured SSL port is 1279.

Using a Custom Certificate

If a certification authority is present in the network, the administrator can choose to change the default certificate for your NAS system. The administrator must use the wizards to first request a certificate and then apply it to the NAS system.

Obtaining a Server Certificate From a Certification Authority

NOTE: If you are replacing your current server certificate, the Internet Information Server (IIS) continues to use the old certificate until the new request has been completed.

Find a certification authority that provides services that meet your business needs, and then request a server certificate.

NOTE: For the latest list of certification authorities supporting IIS, see the Microsoft Security website. In the By Category list, select Certification Authority Services.