Understanding Supported SSL/TLS Protocols

Supported SSL/TLS Protocols represent the complete list of protocol versions that a server is configured to accept and negotiate with connecting clients. This configuration determines which clients can successfully establish secure connections and influences both security posture and compatibility with older systems.

Protocol Version Landscape

Modern servers typically support multiple protocol versions to balance security and compatibility:

TLS 1.3: Latest standard offering optimal security and performance
TLS 1.2: Widely supported, secure when properly configured
TLS 1.1: Deprecated, should be disabled for security
TLS 1.0: Legacy protocol with known vulnerabilities
SSL 3.0/2.0: Obsolete protocols that should never be enabled

Configuration Strategy and Security

Best practice involves supporting only TLS 1.2 and 1.3 while disabling older, vulnerable protocols. However, some organizations maintain broader protocol support to accommodate legacy systems that cannot be immediately updated. The supported protocols list should be regularly reviewed and updated as part of security maintenance, with older protocols disabled as soon as operational requirements permit. This configuration directly impacts PCI DSS compliance, security audit results, and overall risk exposure from protocol-level vulnerabilities.