Microservices architecture separates application components into different services. These services run on other servers, often inside containers, and are available on multiple modernized systems mTLS. These services must communicate over the network to transmit data, while monolithic applications communicate in memory.
Even though ordinary TLS can encrypt communication between microservices, it opens the possibility of intercepting communication from exposed services. Service meshes allow application developers to control traffic service-to-service. A service mesh consolidates microservice administration and holds both ends of the connection through encryption and authentication with mTLS.
mTLS could be an alternative to websites, APIs, and IoT devices with a list of available endpoints. The Revised Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2) is a European bank regulation aiming to increase online banking security and promote innovation for financial service organizations. This allows a consumer bank user to use one app to manage multiple financial accounts from different suppliers.
Bots are often used to attempt to guess passwords. Bots are often used to do this. This makes it nearly impossible to carry out the attack. Spoofing attacks: An attacker can attempt to “spoof” (mimic a web server to a user or vice versa). Spoofing attacks are made more difficult by requiring both parties to verify their TLS certificate certificates. Credential stuffing: Attackers present themselves as valid users with stolen credentials – likely from a data breach. Credential stuffing attacks against businesses that use mTLS won’t succeed without a valid TLS certification. Phishing attacks: These attacks often target user credentials and are used to exploit networks or software. An attacker can still use the user’s credentials even if they are victims of a phishing attack. A brute-force attack is where an attacker attempts to guess a user’s password using brute force. Bots usually do this.
These attacks are futile because mTLS is more than just a password—on-path attack. On-path attackers insert themselves between a client and a server to intercept or alter communications. When mTLS is used, on-path attackers can’t certify with the client or server. This makes it nearly impossible to carry out an attack.
Ideal use cases for mTLS are those that use a CDN to deliver their website content. The site visitor connects to the CDN via a regular (one-way authenticated TLS) connection. The CDN connects to the “origin” via a mutual connection (two-way authenticated). Each CDN and origin server must authenticate one another. Banks can use LS-secured APIs to search for accounts. These APIs can be shown at both the application and transport layers using mTLS.