Performance-Related SSL Issues

Performance-Related SSL Issues

SSL/TLS performance problems manifest as slow page loads, connection timeouts, or high server CPU usage. While modern hardware handles encryption efficiently, misconfigurations can create significant performance impacts. Users might not see explicit SSL errors but experience degraded performance that impacts satisfaction and conversion rates.

Session resumption failures force complete handshakes for every connection, adding latency and computational overhead. Servers should enable both session IDs and session tickets, accommodating different client preferences. Session cache sizing requires balancing memory usage with user population sizes. Distributed environments need shared session storage or session tickets to maintain resumption across servers.

OCSP lookup delays occur when browsers check certificate revocation status. Without OCSP stapling, browsers contact CA OCSP servers during each new connection, adding latency and potential failure points. Enabling OCSP stapling allows servers to provide revocation status directly, eliminating external lookups. Regular OCSP response updates ensure fresh revocation information.

Cipher suite selection significantly impacts performance. Older cipher suites using RSA key exchange require more computation than modern ECDHE variants. AES acceleration through hardware instructions dramatically improves bulk encryption performance. Prioritizing efficient cipher suites while maintaining security requires understanding both server capabilities and client requirements.