How to Use SSL to Secure the Communications Between the Client Messaging Applications and the Exchange Front-End Server

Encrypting messaging traffic can help protect outgoing and incoming mail. This topic explains how to deploy Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to encrypt messaging traffic. You can configure SSL security features on an Exchange server to verify the integrity of your content, verify the identity of users, and encrypt network transmissions.

Before You Begin

Before you perform the procedures in this topic, it is important that you first read "Using Secure Sockets Layer" in Securing Your Exchange Messaging Environment.

Procedure

To use SSL to secure the communications between client messaging applications and the Exchange front-end server

1. Set up SSL on a server. For detailed steps, see How to Set Up SSL on a Server.

2. Obtain and install server certificates. You can obtain a server certificate from a certification authority or issue your own certificate.

   • For information about obtaining and installing server certificates, see "Using Secure Sockets Layer" in Securing Your Exchange Messaging Environment.

   • For detailed steps for obtaining a certificate from a certificate authority, see How to Obtain a Server Certificate from a Certification Authority.

3. Back up your certificates using Certificate Manager.

   • For detailed steps for adding Certificate Manager to MMC, see How to Add Certificate Manager to Microsoft Management Console.

   • For detailed steps for backing up certificates, see How to Back Up Your Server Certificate.

4. Enable SSL for the default Web site. For detailed steps for enabling SSL for the default Web site, see How to Configure Virtual Directories to Use SSL.