SSL/TLS Mastery: Securing Norwegian Business Infrastructure in 2009

January 14, 2009

Introduction: The Changing Landscape of Digital Trust in Norway

As we step into 2009, the digital landscape in Norway is shifting beneath our feet. The recent revelations at the Chaos Communication Congress (25C3) in Berlin just a few weeks ago have sent shockwaves through the IT security community. Researchers demonstrated the creation of a rogue Certification Authority certificate by exploiting MD5 collisions, effectively proving that the hashing algorithm we have relied on for years is no longer safe.

For Norwegian businesses, from the bustling hubs of Oslo to the maritime industries of Bergen, this is a wake-up call. As e-commerce continues to grow—with more consumers using their BankID and credit cards online—the padlock icon in the browser is no longer just a technical requirement; it is the cornerstone of your brand's reputation.

Whether you are running a high-traffic e-commerce site on a Dedicated Server, managing a corporate portal on a VDS (Virtual Dedicated Server), or exploring the emerging flexibility of Cloud Hosting, your SSL/TLS management strategy needs an immediate review. This article serves as a definitive guide for Norwegian IT professionals to navigate certificate management, ensuring performance, security, and trust in an increasingly hostile digital environment.

The Shift to Extended Validation (EV) and the "Green Bar"

One of the most significant trends we are witnessing in 2008 and 2009 is the rise of Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates. With the release of Internet Explorer 7 and Firefox 3, the visual cues for security have changed. It is no longer enough to simply encrypt the connection; you must prove your identity.

For a Norwegian company, obtaining an EV certificate involves a rigorous vetting process. The Certificate Authority (CA) will cross-reference your application with the Brønnøysundregistrene (The Brønnøysund Register Centre). They verify the physical existence of your business and your legal right to use the domain.

Why Upgrade to EV on Your Web Hosting Plan?

The primary benefit is the "Green Bar." When a customer visits your site, the browser address bar turns green and displays your company name and the issuing CA. This is a powerful psychological trigger that combats phishing—a growing threat targeting Norwegian banks and service providers.

If you are utilizing a VPS or Web Hosting solution for an online shop, the investment in EV SSL is negligible compared to the conversion rate uplift. Studies suggest that the green bar can increase transaction completion rates, as customers feel safer entering their payment details.

Technical Best Practices for 2009: Beyond MD5

1. Phasing Out MD5 for SHA-1 and SHA-2

Following the vulnerability exposed in late December 2008, the immediate action item for every system administrator is to stop requesting certificates signed with the MD5 algorithm. While VeriSign and other major CAs have announced they will cease issuing MD5-signed certificates by the end of this month, you must ensure your existing infrastructure is updated.

When generating your Certificate Signing Request (CSR) on your Server Management console—whether it's cPanel, Plesk, or a command-line interface on Linux—ensure you are specifying SHA-1 as the minimum signature algorithm. Looking ahead, SHA-256 (part of the SHA-2 family) is the future, though support in older mobile browsers remains spotty.

2. Key Size Matters: The Move to 2048-bit

The days of 1024-bit RSA keys are numbered. NIST guidelines suggest that 1024-bit keys may be breakable by well-funded organizations in the near future. As a best practice for 2009, all new certificates deployed on your Dedicated Server or VDS should utilize 2048-bit keys. This introduces a slight increase in the computational handshake overhead, but modern hardware handling Web Hosting is more than capable of managing this load without perceptible latency.

Optimizing Performance on VDS and Dedicated Servers

One common objection to widespread SSL adoption is performance. The "SSL handshake" is CPU intensive. However, with the correct Server Management techniques, you can mitigate this impact effectively.

Session Caching

On a Dedicated Server running Apache or IIS, enabling SSL session caching is mandatory. This allows the server to reuse parameters from a previous handshake for a set period, significantly reducing the CPU load for repeat visitors. For VPS environments where resources are virtualized, this is even more critical to prevent "noisy neighbor" issues from affecting your site's encryption speed.

Hardware Acceleration

For enterprise-grade Web Hosting, consider if your hardware supports SSL offloading. While this is often a feature of high-end load balancers, modern Cloud Hosting architectures are beginning to offer virtualized load balancers that can handle the encryption termination, leaving your web servers free to generate content.

Scalability and Wildcard Certificates

As Norwegian businesses expand, their digital footprint grows. You might have shop.domain.no, mail.domain.no, and intranet.domain.no. Managing individual certificates for each subdomain on a VDS can become a logistical nightmare and a financial drain.

Wildcard Certificates (*.domain.no) are the solution for scalability. They allow you to secure an unlimited number of subdomains on a single IP address (a crucial factor given the IPv4 exhaustion discussions heating up). However, be wary of security implications: if the private key of a wildcard certificate is compromised on one server, all subdomains are vulnerable. For critical infrastructure, separate certificates on isolated Dedicated Server environments remain the gold standard.

Security Considerations: Protecting the Private Key

The heart of SSL/TLS security is the private key. If an attacker gains access to your private key, they can decrypt all traffic destined for your server.

• Access Control: On a Linux VPS, ensure the key file is readable only by the root user (chmod 400).
• Backup Strategy: Never store your private keys in unencrypted backups. If you use a remote backup service for your Web Hosting data, exclude the directory containing SSL keys or ensure the backup archive itself is heavily encrypted.
• Regeneration: If you migrate from a Shared Hosting environment to a Dedicated Server, do not just copy the old certificate files. Take the opportunity to generate a new private key and reissue the certificate. This ensures that any previous hosting provider personnel no longer have access to your active encryption keys.

The Norwegian Legal Context: Datatilsynet

Operating in Norway requires strict adherence to the Personal Data Act (Personopplysningsloven). The Data Inspectorate (Datatilsynet) mandates that sensitive personal data transferred over a network must be encrypted.

For IT managers, this means that SSL is not optional for login pages, forms collecting personal ID numbers (fødselsnummer), or health data. Using a robust VDS solution allows you to implement site-wide SSL, ensuring that no cookie or session ID is ever transmitted in plain text. This is a proactive step that not only satisfies legal requirements but builds significant trust with your Norwegian user base.

Cost-Effectiveness: VDS vs. Dedicated vs. Shared

In 2009, the cost of SSL is not just the price of the certificate; it is the cost of the IP address and the hosting infrastructure.

• Shared Hosting: Historically required a dedicated IP for SSL, which costs extra. SNI (Server Name Indication) is a new technology that allows multiple certificates on one IP, but it is not yet supported by Windows XP/IE6, which still constitutes a massive chunk of the Norwegian browser market. Therefore, dedicated IPs are still required.
• VDS (Virtual Dedicated Server): A VDS offers the most cost-effective route for small to medium businesses. You get the dedicated IP and root access needed for custom certificate installation without the hardware cost of a full server.
• Dedicated Server: For high-volume transaction sites, the raw power of a dedicated machine ensures that 2048-bit encryption does not slow down the user experience.

Conclusion: Secure Your Future Today

The vulnerabilities exposed in MD5 this year mark a turning point. We are moving towards a more rigorously validated and heavily encrypted web. For Norwegian businesses, the path forward involves auditing your current Web Hosting infrastructure, upgrading to 2048-bit keys, and seriously considering EV certificates to leverage the trust of the "Green Bar."

Whether you are managing a single VPS or a complex cluster of Dedicated Servers, the management of your SSL certificates is a direct reflection of your commitment to customer security. Don't wait for a security breach or a compliance audit to force your hand.

Ready to upgrade your infrastructure? At CoolVDS, we understand the unique security needs of the Norwegian market. Our high-performance VDS and Dedicated Server solutions provide the robust foundation you need to implement these best practices effortlessly. Secure your data, protect your customers, and grow your business with a hosting partner that prioritizes security as much as you do.