When should I use mTLS?

Service-to-service communication (microservices, APIs), zero-trust networks, and high-security client connections (financial APIs, IoT device management). It is overkill for public web apps where user authentication is handled at the application layer.

How do I rotate client certificates?

Use short-lived certificates (e.g., 24 hours) with automated issuance. The client requests a new certificate before the old one expires, authenticated by the current valid certificate. Tools like cert-manager (Kubernetes) or SPIFFE automate this.

Implementar mutual TLS (mTLS) authentication

mTLS requires both cliente y servidor a present certificates, providing strong bidirectional authentication sin passwords. Común en servicio-a-servicio y zero-trust architectures.

1

In standard TLS, only the server proves its identity. In mTLS, the client also presents a certificate, verified by the server. This eliminates passwords for service-to-service communication. The server is configured to "require and verify" client certificates.
2

Herramienta RSA →
Generar a client key pair and create a CSR. The internal CA signs it and returns a client certificate. The client stores both the certificate and private key.
3

Calculadora de hash →
Verify the client certificate chain against the internal CA's root. The server must trust this CA (configured as a trusted CA for client verification).
4

Configure the server to require client certificates (nginx: ssl_verify_client on; ssl_client_certificate ca.crt). Map certificate DNs to authorization roles. For zero-trust, use short-lived certificates (hours, not years) with automated rotation via an internal CA or SPIFFE/SPIRE.

Preguntas frecuentes

When should I use mTLS?: Service-to-service communication (microservices, APIs), zero-trust networks, and high-security client connections (financial APIs, IoT device management). It is overkill for public web apps where user authentication is handled at the application layer.
How do I rotate client certificates?: Use short-lived certificates (e.g., 24 hours) with automated issuance. The client requests a new certificate before the old one expires, authenticated by the current valid certificate. Tools like cert-manager (Kubernetes) or SPIFFE automate this.