TLS

TLS works through a handshake process where the client and server agree on a protocol version, select cryptographic algorithms, authenticate the server via certificates, and establish encrypted session keys. TLS 1.3, the current version, streamlined this process to a single round trip, improving both security and performance by removing outdated cipher suites and simplifying the handshake.

For AI product teams, TLS is non-negotiable because AI services handle sensitive user data: queries, behavioral signals, and often personally identifiable information. All API calls between services, model endpoints, and client applications must be encrypted. Growth teams should ensure TLS is properly configured across the entire request path, including internal service-to-service communication, because a security breach involving AI-processed user data can be catastrophic for both user trust and regulatory compliance. Modern TLS 1.3 adds minimal latency, so there is no performance justification for unencrypted communication. Certificate management should be automated using tools like cert-manager or Let's Encrypt to prevent outages from expired certificates.