TLS and MTLS - Introduction to Modern Security

Learn about TLS and mTLS security fundamentals in this 29-minute conference talk from CNCF experts Andrew Davis and Sandeep Kanabar. Explore how these cornerstone security technologies have evolved over 25 years and their critical role in modern zero-trust architectures and cloud native environments. Gain clear explanations of how TLS and mTLS work, their relationship to each other, certificate management, and their practical applications in service meshes. Using Linkerd as an example, discover implementation-agnostic insights about these security standards, understand their strengths and limitations, and learn how they relate to end-user authentication. The speakers, both members of the Deaf & Hard of Hearing Working Group, break down complex security concepts into accessible explanations while sharing valuable lessons learned from decades of security testing and real-world applications.