Sams Teach Yourself Apache 2 in 24 Hours

Chapter 17. Setting Up a Secure Server

This hour explains how to set up an Apache server capable of secure transactions. In this hour, you will learn

• The installation and configuration of the mod_ssl Apache module

• The SSL/TLS family of protocols and the underlying cryptography concepts

• What certificates are and how to create and manage them

The Need for Security

As the Internet became mainstream and the number of companies, individuals, and government agencies using it grew, so did the number and type of transactions that needed protection. Those include financial transactions, such as banking operations and electronic commerce, as well as exchange of sensitive information, such as medical records and corporate documents.

There are three requirements ...