SSTP stands for Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol. It is a robust protocol primarily used for establishing secure Virtual Private Network (VPN) connections.
Understanding SSTP
The Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol (SSTP) is a tunneling protocol that encapsulates Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) traffic over an SSL/TLS channel. This method provides a high level of security, leveraging the same encryption and authentication mechanisms used for secure web browsing (HTTPS).
Key characteristics of SSTP include:
- Secure Tunneling: SSTP creates a secure tunnel for data transmission by using SSL/TLS encryption, which protects data from eavesdropping and tampering.
- VPN Protocol: It is widely recognized as a common protocol for building VPN connections, allowing users to securely access private networks over a public network like the internet.
- Microsoft Development: SSTP was developed by Microsoft. This origin makes it particularly prevalent and well-supported within Windows operating system environments.
- Windows Environment Preference: Due to its development by Microsoft, SSTP is generally more common and seamlessly integrated into Windows systems compared to Linux or other operating systems, though clients for other platforms do exist.
By combining the security of SSL/TLS with the flexibility of VPN tunneling, SSTP offers a reliable and secure method for remote access and data transfer.