Cybersecurity Briefing — March 5, 2020
NSA cautioned that poorly implemented TLS inspection can weaken enterprise security, recommending certificate pinning awareness, protocol validation, and strict device management for middleboxes.
Executive briefing: On , the National Security Agency released guidance titled Managing Risk from Transport Layer Security Inspection. The paper explains how TLS break-and-inspect appliances can downgrade security, expose plaintext to additional parties, or block protocol updates if not carefully controlled.
Why it matters: Enterprises using TLS inspection to monitor encrypted traffic must ensure devices enforce modern protocol standards, protect decrypted data, and avoid disrupting certificate validation.
- Standards compliance: Require inspection devices to support current TLS versions and cipher suites without modifying server certificates or stapled OCSP responses.
- Key protection: Restrict access to inspection private keys and logs containing decrypted content; monitor for unauthorized export of key material.
- Change management: Test major browser or protocol updates in staging before broad rollout to ensure inspection appliances do not break connectivity.
- Audit coverage: Document inspection scope, retention policies, and vendor updates; ensure visibility when inspection is bypassed for pinned or sensitive destinations.
Continue in the Cybersecurity pillar
Return to the hub for curated research and deep-dive guides.
Latest guides
-
Cybersecurity Operations Playbook — Zeph Tech
Use Zeph Tech research to align NIST CSF 2.0, CISA KEV deadlines, and sector mandates across threat intelligence, exposure management, and incident response teams.