What is SSL inspection?process of intercepting and reviewing SSL-encrypted internet communication between the client and the serverProcess of trusting packetsNone

SSL inspection, also known as SSL interception, is a security process where the encrypted communication happening over SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) between a client and a server is intercepted and decrypted in order to allow deep packet inspection. This is done to identify any potential threats or malicious activities hidden in the SSL-encrypted traffic.

Here are the steps involved in SSL inspection:

1. The client sends a request to the server to establish an SSL connection.

2. The SSL inspection device (like a firewall) intercepts this request and establishes an SSL connection with the server on behalf of the client.

3. The server sends back its public key and certificate to the SSL inspection device.

4. The SSL inspection device then creates a new SSL certificate with the server's information, signs it with its own Certificate Authority (CA), and sends it to the client.

5. The client verifies the certificate and establishes an SSL connection with the SSL inspection device, thinking it's the server.

6. Now, the SSL inspection device can decrypt the traffic from the client, inspect it for threats, re-encrypt it with the server's public key, and send it to the server.

7. The server decrypts the traffic, processes the request, and sends back the response to the SSL inspection device.

8. The SSL inspection device again decrypts the traffic from the server, inspects it, re-encrypts it with the client's public key, and sends it to the client.

This way, SSL inspection allows for deep packet inspection of SSL-encrypted traffic, helping to identify and block potential threats that could be hidden in the encrypted communication.