TLS vs SSL
People say "SSL" but almost always mean TLS. SSL is the deprecated predecessor; TLS is the protocol that actually secures HTTPS today. The exam expects you to know SSL is dead and why.
Last updated August 2026
| Aspect | SSL | TLS |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Secure Sockets Layer | Transport Layer Security |
| Status | Deprecated and insecure | Current standard |
| Versions | SSL 2.0 and 3.0 (both broken) | TLS 1.0 and 1.1 (retired), 1.2, and 1.3 (current) |
| Known attacks | POODLE and DROWN exploit SSL directly | TLS 1.2 and 1.3 close those holes |
| Handshake | Slower, more round trips | TLS 1.3 needs one round trip and drops weak ciphers |
| Forward secrecy | Not guaranteed | Standard in TLS 1.3 (ephemeral key exchange) |
| Use it today? | No, disable SSL entirely | Yes, TLS 1.2 or 1.3 |
The bottom line
SSL and TLS do the same job, encrypting data in transit, but every SSL version is broken and should be disabled. "SSL certificate" is just a marketing holdover; the protocol doing the work is TLS. On the exam, if a server still allows SSL 3.0 the fix is to turn it off and require TLS 1.2 or higher.
Lock it in with practice
Reading the difference is a start. SecPlus Mastery drills it with over 1,000 practice questions, timed mock exams, and spaced review across all five SY0-701 domains, so it sticks for exam day.
FAQ
Is SSL the same as TLS?
They are closely related but not the same. TLS is the successor to SSL. All SSL versions are deprecated and insecure, so modern secure connections use TLS even when people still call it "SSL."Which TLS version should I use?
TLS 1.2 at minimum, and TLS 1.3 where supported. TLS 1.0 and 1.1 are deprecated, and all SSL versions should be disabled.
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