What is a Server Name Indication (SNI)? How it Works & Why it Matters

Server Name Indication – SNI has changed how websites with a single IP address should handle SSL/TLS certificates. Previously, a website on a single IP address could only host one SSL certificate. SNI enables multiple SSL/TLS certificates to be used on the same IP address. With the rapid expansion of websites and TLDs, the demand for secure communication has increased. SSL/TLS certificates encrypt the data and secure transmission over the internet. However, hosting multiple SSL certificates on the same IP address posed a challenge. The Server Name Indication has come to the rescue in mitigating this challenge. This article provides a clear idea about the SNI extension. We will also learn about its working and importance in modern web security. What is Server Name Indication (SNI) in TLS? The Server Name Indication is an extension of the TLS (Transport Layer Security) protocol. It supports the browser or application to communicate with the hostname during the primary TLS handshake. Each SSL/TLS certificate sought a separate IP address before SNI was introduced. A single server hosting multiple domains struggles to determine different certificates without separate IPs. SNI enables various domains to share a single IP while using their own TLS certificates. How […]