Securing Connections with SSL

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) provides a secure, encrypted connection between Microsoft NNTP Service and the client computer. SSL can protect your private information when users connect across a public network such as the Internet.

SSL support requires an SSL Certificate installed on the Windows NT Server computer and client software that supports SSL. Microsoft Internet Mail and News supports SSL.

If a server certificate is installed, Microsoft NNTP Service uses SSL whenever a client requests it. You can optionally require SSL for all newsgroups or for newsgroups located in a virtual directory. You can also use SSL authentication of clients.

To enable SSL:

Obtain and install an SSL server certificate. See Encryption in the Server Administration Security section of the IIS online documentation.
To require an SSL connection to access newsgroups located in the home directory use Internet Service Manager or Internet Service Manager (HTML) and select the Home Directory property sheet. Choose Edit and then select the Require Secure Channel check box.
To require an SSL connection to access newsgroups located in a virtual directory use Internet Service Manager or Internet Service Manager (HTML) and select the virtual directory. From the Action menu, choose Properties. Choose Edit, and then select the Require Secure Channel check box.
To enable SSL authentication for clients, using Internet Service Manager or Internet Service Manager (HTML), select the Directory Security property sheet. Choose Edit, and then select the Enable SSL Client Authentication check box.