SSL Offloading
SSL Offloading is a networking technique where SSL/TLS encryption and decryption tasks are handled by a dedicated device or service, such as a load balancer or reverse proxy, rather than the backend application servers. This process involves terminating SSL connections at the edge of the network, decrypting incoming encrypted traffic, and forwarding unencrypted data to the servers. It improves performance by reducing the computational load on application servers, allowing them to focus on processing application logic.
Developers should implement SSL Offloading in high-traffic web applications, e-commerce sites, or APIs to enhance scalability and security. It is particularly useful when backend servers lack the resources to handle SSL/TLS processing efficiently, as it offloads CPU-intensive cryptographic operations to specialized hardware or software. This approach also simplifies certificate management and enables features like centralized logging and traffic inspection.