Obtaining a Secure Sockets Layer (PCT/SSL) Digital Certificate

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The PCT/SSL protocols provide secure data communication through data encryption and decryption. A PCT/SSL-enabled server can send and receive private communication across the Internet to PCT/SSL-enabled clients (browsers), such as Microsoft Internet Explorer version 2.0 for Windows 95 (included on the Microsoft Internet Information Server compact disc in the \CLIENTS directory).

In the Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) model, PCT and SSL are protocol layers between the TCP/IP transport/network layer and the application layer where HTTP operates. PCT/SSL provide server authentication, encryption, and data integrity. Authentication assures the client that data is being sent to the correct server and that the server is secure. Encryption assures that the data cannot be read by anyone other than the secure target server. Data integrity assures that the data being transferred has not been altered.

Enabling PCT/SSL security on a Microsoft Internet Information Server involves the following steps:

1. Generate a key pair file and a request file.
2. Request a certificate from a Certification Authority.*
3. Install the certificate on your server.
4. Activate PCT/SSL security on a WWW service directory.

* Digital certificates can be obtained from Verisign. For more information, point your browser to:

You can find more information on the implementation of PCT/SSL in the Microsoft Internet Information Server Installation and Planning guide, pages 58 - 63.