mTLS

Abbreviation · Security & Infosec

Definitions

  1. Mutual TLS — an extension of standard TLS where both the client and server present certificates to authenticate each other (standard TLS only authenticates the server). Provides strong service-to-service authentication in zero-trust architectures. Service meshes like Istio and Linkerd automate mTLS between microservices.

    In plain English: A security protocol where both sides of a connection prove their identity with certificates, not just the server.

    Example: "Enable mTLS between all services — every request is encrypted and both sides verify each other's identity via certificates."

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