Glossary of Key Terms
A comprehensive guide to SSL/TLS and certificate management terminology used in SSLBoard.
Certificate Management
Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM)
The process of managing SSL/TLS certificates from issuance to renewal or revocation, including tracking, deployment, and auditing.
Agentless CLM
A CLM solution that does not require any software agents to be installed on the monitored servers or devices, simplifying deployment and reducing overhead.
SSL Expiration Problem
A common issue where websites experience outages or security warnings because their SSL certificates have reached their validity end date and were not renewed or replaced in time.
Deployment Drift
Inconsistencies in certificate deployment across different servers, IP addresses (IPv4 vs. IPv6), or load balancer nodes, where some parts of the infrastructure might be using an older or expired certificate.
SSL/TLS Technologies
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) / TLS (Transport Layer Security)
Cryptographic protocols designed to provide communication security over a computer network. SSL is the predecessor to TLS, and the terms are often used interchangeably.
SSL Certificate
A digital certificate that authenticates the identity of a website and encrypts information sent to the server using SSL/TLS technology.
Certificate Transparency Logs (CT Logs)
Public, append-only logs that record all SSL/TLS certificates issued by Certificate Authorities. They help users detect misissued certificates and maintain an auditable record.
RSA / ECDSA
Different types of cryptographic algorithms used for generating and signing SSL/TLS certificates. RSA (Rivest–Shamir–Adleman) is older and widely used, while ECDSA (Elliptic Curve Digital Signature Algorithm) is newer and offers stronger security with smaller key sizes.
Weak Ciphers
Encryption algorithms or protocols that are considered insecure or vulnerable due to known weaknesses, outdated standards, or insufficient key lengths.
OCSP (Online Certificate Status Protocol)
A protocol used for obtaining the revocation status of an X.509 digital certificate. SSLBoard uses this to check for revoked certificates still in deployment.
Network and Infrastructure
HostName
The unique name given to a device connected to a computer network, often corresponding to a domain or subdomain (e.g., www.example.com).
IPv6
The most recent version of the Internet Protocol, providing a much larger address space than IPv4. SSLBoard monitors certificates on both IPv4 and IPv6.
Domain Lists
A feature within SSLBoard that allows users to organize and group multiple domains they wish to monitor together.
Integration and Automation
ICS Calendar Feeds
A standard (iCalendar) for exchanging calendar and scheduling information. SSLBoard allows users to subscribe to their certificate expiration dates via ICS for integration with personal calendars.
Webhook
A method for an app to provide real-time information to other applications. It’s essentially an automated message sent from one app to another when a specific event occurs, used by SSLBoard for custom alerts.
n8n / Zapier
Workflow automation tools that allow users to connect various applications and automate tasks without writing code. SSLBoard integrates with these via webhooks.
Enterprise Features
SLA (Service Level Agreement)
A contract between a service provider and a customer that defines the level of service expected from the provider. Offered with SSLBoard’s Enterprise plan.
OIDC (OpenID Connect)
An authentication layer on top of OAuth 2.0, allowing clients to verify the identity of the end-user based on authentication performed by an authorization server. Offered with SSLBoard’s Enterprise plan for single sign-on (SSO).
Firehose Access
In the context of data, “firehose” typically refers to receiving a complete, real-time stream of all available data. For SSLBoard, it implies comprehensive raw data access for Enterprise clients.
User Experience
UI/UX (User Interface/User Experience)
Refers to the design and usability aspects of a software product. SSLBoard emphasizes a “nicer UI/UX” for easier navigation and information access.