How to Monitor SSL TLS Version and Security on Linux Server

Step-by-step guide to monitor SSL TLS version and security settings. Track TLS versions, detect weak ciphers, and ensure secure SSL configuration.

Last updated: 2026-01-11

How to Monitor SSL TLS Version and Security on Linux Server

Monitor SSL TLS version and security settings to track TLS versions, detect weak ciphers, and ensure secure SSL configuration. This guide shows you how to monitor SSL TLS security and set up automated monitoring.

For comprehensive SSL monitoring, see SSL Certificate Monitoring. For troubleshooting SSL issues, see SSL Certificate Expired.

Why Monitoring SSL TLS Security Matters

SSL TLS security is critical for protecting data in transit. Weak TLS versions or insecure ciphers can expose data to security risks. Monitoring SSL TLS security ensures secure communication and compliance.

Method 1: Check TLS Version with openssl

Test TLS Version Support

# Test TLS 1.2 support
echo | openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -tls1_2 2>/dev/null | grep "Protocol"

# Test TLS 1.3 support
echo | openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -tls1_3 2>/dev/null | grep "Protocol"

# Check supported TLS versions
for version in -ssl2 -ssl3 -tls1 -tls1_1 -tls1_2 -tls1_3; do
  echo -n "$version: "
  echo | openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 $version 2>/dev/null | grep -q "Protocol" && echo "Supported" || echo "Not supported"
done

Check TLS Cipher Suites

# List supported cipher suites
openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -cipher 'ALL' 2>/dev/null | grep "Cipher"

# Test specific cipher
openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -cipher 'ECDHE-RSA-AES256-GCM-SHA384' 2>/dev/null | grep "Cipher"

Method 2: Check SSL Configuration

Analyze SSL Configuration

# Check SSL configuration with sslscan
sslscan example.com:443

# Check SSL with testssl.sh
testssl.sh example.com

# Check TLS version with nmap
nmap --script ssl-enum-ciphers -p 443 example.com

Method 3: Automated SSL TLS Monitoring with Zuzia.app

Set up automated monitoring to track SSL TLS security continuously and receive alerts when weak configurations are detected.

Step 1: Add SSL TLS Monitoring Command

  1. Log in to Zuzia.app Dashboard

    • Access your Zuzia.app account
    • Navigate to your server
    • Click "Add Scheduled Task"
  2. Configure TLS Version Check Command

    echo | openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 -tls1_2 2>/dev/null | grep -q "Protocol" && echo "TLS1.2 OK" || echo "TLS1.2 FAILED"
    
    • Set execution frequency (every 30-60 minutes)
    • Configure alerts when weak TLS versions detected

Step 2: Configure Alert Thresholds

  • Warning: TLS 1.0 or 1.1 detected
  • Critical: SSL 2.0 or 3.0 detected
  • Emergency: No secure TLS version supported

Step 3: Monitor SSL Certificate

Add command to check certificate expiration:

# Check certificate expiration
echo | openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 2>/dev/null | openssl x509 -noout -dates

Best Practices for SSL TLS Monitoring

1. Monitor TLS Versions Continuously

  • Track supported TLS versions regularly
  • Alert when weak TLS versions detected
  • Ensure TLS 1.2+ is supported
  • Disable old TLS versions

2. Monitor Cipher Suites

  • Track cipher suite configuration
  • Alert on weak ciphers
  • Ensure strong ciphers are used
  • Update cipher configuration

3. Set Up Comprehensive Alerts

  • Configure alerts for weak TLS versions
  • Set up alerts for weak ciphers
  • Monitor certificate expiration
  • Alert on SSL configuration changes

4. Maintain Security Compliance

  • Meet security compliance requirements
  • Document SSL TLS configuration
  • Maintain security audit trails
  • Report security incidents

Troubleshooting SSL TLS Issues

Step 1: Identify SSL Problems

When SSL TLS issues are detected:

# Check TLS version support
echo | openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 2>/dev/null | grep "Protocol"

# Check cipher suites
openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 2>/dev/null | grep "Cipher"

# Check certificate
echo | openssl s_client -connect example.com:443 2>/dev/null | openssl x509 -noout -text

Step 2: Resolve SSL Issues

Based on investigation:

  1. Update TLS Configuration:

    • Disable old TLS versions
    • Enable TLS 1.2+
    • Update cipher suites
  2. Fix Certificate Issues:

    • Renew expired certificates
    • Fix certificate configuration
    • Update certificate chain
  3. Improve SSL Security:

    • Implement security best practices
    • Update SSL configuration
    • Monitor SSL security continuously

FAQ: Common Questions About SSL TLS Monitoring

How often should I check SSL TLS security?

For production servers, continuous automated monitoring is essential. Zuzia.app can check SSL TLS security every 30-60 minutes, storing historical data and alerting you when security issues are detected.

What TLS versions should I support?

Support TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3. Disable TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, SSL 2.0, and SSL 3.0 as they are insecure. Monitor TLS version support continuously.

How do I improve SSL TLS security?

Improve SSL TLS security by disabling old TLS versions, using strong cipher suites, keeping certificates updated, implementing security best practices, and monitoring SSL security continuously.

Can SSL monitoring impact server performance?

SSL monitoring commands have minimal impact on server performance when done correctly. Use appropriate monitoring frequency and avoid monitoring during peak traffic periods.

Note: The content above is part of our brainstorming and planning process. Not all described features are yet available in the current version of Zuzia.

If you'd like to achieve what's described in this article, please contact us – we'd be happy to work on it and tailor the solution to your needs.

In the meantime, we invite you to try out Zuzia's current features – server monitoring, SSL checks, task management, and many more.

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