SSL inspection

Why SSL Inspection Is Needed

Test update 13 Feb.

Today, the vast majority of web traffic is encrypted using SSL/TLS (Secure Sockets Layer / Transport Layer Security). While encryption protects users’ privacy and sensitive data, it also creates a blind spot for security tools. Malware, phishing payloads, command-and-control traffic, and data exfiltration can all hide inside encrypted connections.

Without SSL inspection, firewalls and secure web gateways can see where traffic is going—but not what is inside it.

How SSL Inspection Works

SSL inspection typically operates through a process known as a “man-in-the-middle” (MITM) proxy:

1. A user attempts to connect to an HTTPS website.
2. The security appliance intercepts the connection.
3. It decrypts the traffic using a trusted internal certificate.
4. The decrypted content is inspected for threats or policy violations.
5. The traffic is re-encrypted and sent to its destination.

To function properly, the organization must install its root certificate on managed devices so browsers trust the inspection process.