What role does TLS play in securing communications?

• A. Encryption, integrity, and server/client authentication for data in transit
• B. Only encryption for data in transit
• C. Only authentication for servers
• D. Video compression

Answer: (A)

TLS secures communications by providing encryption, integrity, and authentication for data in transit. During the handshake, the server proves its identity with a certificate, and, if configured for it, the client can also prove its identity. The handshake negotiates a secure key exchange, often with ephemeral keys to enable forward secrecy. Once the session keys are established, the data is encrypted to protect privacy, and an integrity check (via MAC or AEAD) ensures any tampering is detected. This combination prevents eavesdropping, tampering, and impersonation between the communicating parties. Video compression is not part of TLS, and TLS does more than encryption alone by also providing authentication and integrity.