OpenSSL
9 vendors are named alongside OpenSSL. 4 sources reference it, most recently Netskope Adds PQC key exchange support to Next Gen SWG (Aug 2026).
What is OpenSSL?
OpenSSL is an open-source cryptography (security) and transport security (network security) toolkit that provides a full-featured implementation of the SSL and Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols alongside a general-purpose cryptographic library.
- Cryptographic library implementing symmetric, asymmetric, and hash primitives (security)
- Implementation of SSL and TLS protocols for secure communication over networks (network security)
- Command-line utilities for key, certificate, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) management (public key infrastructure)
- APIs for application-level integration of encryption, decryption, and secure channels (application security)
- Support for X.509 certificates, certificate chains, and related validation operations (identity and access)
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More About OpenSSL
OpenSSL is a widely deployed software toolkit for cryptography (security) and secure network communication (network security), providing an open-source implementation of the SSL and TLS protocols and a modular cryptographic library. It addresses the need for standardized, interoperable mechanisms to protect data in transit and at rest, and to manage keys and digital certificates in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) scenarios.
The OpenSSL toolkit offers two primary components: a cryptographic library often referred to as libcrypto (security) and a protocol-focused library commonly known as libssl (network security). The cryptographic library implements widely used algorithms for symmetric encryption, public-key cryptography, message digests, and message authentication codes, forming a reusable foundation for secure application development. The SSL/TLS component provides protocol support to establish encrypted channels over Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) networks, covering handshake, key exchange, and record protection functions required for secure client-server communication.
In enterprise environments, OpenSSL underpins secure transport for applications, web servers, mail servers, Virtual Private Network (VPN) gateways, and other infrastructure that rely on TLS for confidentiality and integrity. It is commonly used to generate and manage X.509 certificates and key pairs (public key infrastructure), support certificate signing requests, and convert between certificate formats. The command-line tools included with OpenSSL enable scripting and automation for certificate lifecycle operations, cryptographic testing, and protocol diagnostics, which are relevant for operations teams and security engineers.
OpenSSL exposes C-language APIs (developer libraries) that allow integration of cryptographic functions and TLS capabilities directly into applications, libraries, and system services. Through these APIs, developers can configure protocol versions, cipher suites, certificate verification behavior, and session parameters in line with organizational security policies. The project maintains compatibility with standard TLS protocol specifications (network security) and X.509 certificate structures (identity and access), supporting interoperability with other conformant implementations and PKI components such as certificate authorities and hardware security modules.
From a technical taxonomy perspective, OpenSSL fits into cryptographic libraries, TLS/SSL protocol implementations, and PKI tooling. It is applicable across operating systems and is used both directly and as a dependency of higher-level frameworks and server software. For enterprises, OpenSSL functions as a foundational building block for encryption, secure communications, and Certificate-Based Authentication (CBA), forming part of the security and compliance baseline in networked systems and application platforms.