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OpenSSL VS AWS Certificate Manager

Compare OpenSSL VS AWS Certificate Manager and see what are their differences

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OpenSSL logo OpenSSL

OpenSSL is a free and open source software cryptography library that implements both the Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocols, which are primarily used to provide secure communications between web browsers and …

AWS Certificate Manager logo AWS Certificate Manager

AWS Certificate Manager from Amazon Web Services (AWS)
  • OpenSSL Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-14
  • AWS Certificate Manager Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-04-15

OpenSSL features and specs

  • Open Source
    OpenSSL is open-source software, which means it is freely available and can be reviewed, modified, and improved by anyone.
  • Widely Used
    OpenSSL is one of the most widely used libraries for SSL and TLS protocols, ensuring high compatibility and support across different platforms and applications.
  • Comprehensive Documentation
    OpenSSL provides extensive documentation and resources that can help users understand and implement its features effectively.
  • Regular Updates
    The OpenSSL project is actively maintained, receiving regular updates and patches to address security vulnerabilities and improve functionality.
  • Community Support
    A large community of developers and users contribute to forums, mailing lists, and other discussion platforms, providing support and sharing knowledge.
  • Flexible and Powerful
    OpenSSL offers a wide range of cryptographic functions and protocols, making it a versatile tool for various security requirements.

Possible disadvantages of OpenSSL

  • Complexity
    OpenSSL can be complex to configure and use, particularly for beginners or those without a deep understanding of cryptographic principles.
  • Security Vulnerabilities
    Despite regular updates, OpenSSL has had several high-profile security vulnerabilities in the past, such as Heartbleed, which can have broad implications.
  • Performance Overhead
    Depending on the implementation and configuration, using OpenSSL can introduce performance overhead, impacting the speed and efficiency of applications.
  • Limited User-Friendly Tools
    While OpenSSL is powerful, it lacks user-friendly tools and interfaces, making it harder for less technical users to operate.
  • Documentation Quality
    Though comprehensive, some users find the OpenSSL documentation to be dense and difficult to navigate, which can make troubleshooting and implementation challenging.

AWS Certificate Manager features and specs

  • Automated Certificate Management
    AWS Certificate Manager automates the creation, renewal, and deployment of SSL/TLS certificates, reducing manual effort and the risk of human error.
  • Seamless Integration
    AWS Certificate Manager integrates easily with other AWS services such as Elastic Load Balancing (ELB), Amazon CloudFront, and Amazon API Gateway, simplifying the process of securing web applications.
  • Free Public Certificates
    AWS offers free public SSL/TLS certificates through AWS Certificate Manager, allowing users to secure their domains without additional cost.
  • Enhanced Security
    Automated renewal and deployment of certificates help ensure that your applications and services remain secure and compliant with industry standards.
  • Scalability
    AWS Certificate Manager can handle a large number of certificates, making it suitable for enterprises with many domains and subdomains.

Possible disadvantages of AWS Certificate Manager

  • AWS Ecosystem Dependency
    AWS Certificate Manager is deeply integrated with AWS services, which can be a limitation for businesses that utilize multi-cloud or hybrid cloud strategies.
  • Limited Customization
    Users have less control over certificate details and configurations compared to managing their own certificates manually or through other certificate authorities.
  • Proprietary Limitations
    AWS Certificate Manager's certificates can only be used with supported AWS services, which restricts their use in non-AWS environments.
  • Region Availability
    Some AWS regions may have limited support or features for AWS Certificate Manager compared to others, which can affect global deployment strategies.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find it challenging to understand and utilize all the features and integrations provided by AWS Certificate Manager without sufficient AWS knowledge.

Analysis of OpenSSL

Overall verdict

  • Yes, OpenSSL is generally considered a reliable and secure option for secure communications. However, like any software, it requires proper configuration and regular updates to maintain its security posture.

Why this product is good

  • OpenSSL is an open-source cryptographic library widely used for implementing secure communications over networks using the SSL and TLS protocols. It is considered good because of its extensive feature set, constant updates, and widespread adoption across different platforms. The project benefits from a large community of contributors who regularly update and patch the software, ensuring it stays secure and robust.

Recommended for

  • Web servers requiring SSL/TLS support for secure HTTP (HTTPS) connections
  • Developers needing cryptographic functions for applications
  • Embedded systems requiring small footprint security solutions
  • Network applications that require secure data transmission

Analysis of AWS Certificate Manager

Overall verdict

  • AWS Certificate Manager is an excellent choice, especially for AWS users. It offers robust security features, ease of integration, and automation, which collectively enhance an organization's ability to manage certificates effectively. Organizations that use AWS infrastructure benefit significantly from ACM's seamless integration with other services within the AWS ecosystem.

Why this product is good

  • AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) is widely regarded as a reliable and efficient service for managing SSL/TLS certificates. It simplifies the process of deploying certificates on AWS resources, ensures secure communication for web applications, and handles certificate renewals automatically. Integration with other AWS services is seamless, which enhances security and reduces administrative burdens. The service also supports both public and private certificates, making it versatile for various use cases.

Recommended for

    ACM is highly recommended for organizations and developers who utilize AWS services extensively and need a streamlined, secure method to manage SSL/TLS certificates. It is ideal for those who want to minimize the operational overhead of certificate management and leverage AWS's scalable infrastructure for secure deployments.

OpenSSL videos

Das Kommando "enc" in OpenSSL

More videos:

  • Review - OpenSSL and FIPS... They Are Back Together!
  • Review - OpenSSL After Heartbleed by Rich Salz & Tim Hudson, OpenSSL

AWS Certificate Manager videos

How can I add certificates for websites to the ELB using AWS Certificate Manager?

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to OpenSSL and AWS Certificate Manager)
Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Network & Admin
0 0%
100% 100
Javascript UI Libraries
100 100%
0% 0
Domain Name Registrar
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, AWS Certificate Manager seems to be a lot more popular than OpenSSL. While we know about 25 links to AWS Certificate Manager, we've tracked only 2 mentions of OpenSSL. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

OpenSSL mentions (2)

  • Why does Baserow need my personal data so I can run open source?
    Baserow uses open source like https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenSSL and can use it without handing over data to openssl.org. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Creating private key help
    Noob here; I'm looking at openssl.org Two commands are listed; "openssl-genrsa" and "openssl genrsa" (No hyphen). Source: over 3 years ago

AWS Certificate Manager mentions (25)

  • Building My Cloud Resume: A Step-by-Step Journey
    To ensure my website is secure, I used AWS Certificate Manager (ACM) to provision an SSL/TLS certificate for my domain. With HTTPS enabled, my visitors can be confident that their connection to my resume site is secure. ACM simplified the process of managing the certificate, and I configured CloudFront to use it, providing a secure browsing experience. - Source: dev.to / 6 days ago
  • Deploy a Static React Site Using AWS S3 and CloudFront
    In this tutorial, I will walk you through building a quick static site by doing a static build using ReactJS & create-react-app, then show you how to deploy that static site on AWS using S3 buckets as well as how to cache it & add SSL certificates with CloudFront CDN & Certificate Manager. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • Authenticating users in the load balancer with Cognito
    Because of that, we'll need a valid public certificate, which we can request in Certificate Manager for free. - Source: dev.to / over 1 year ago
  • How to maintain my SSL cert after xferring to AWS?
    Check out Amazon certificate manager (ACM) . Essentially, you can have free public certificates for use with Amazon services with auto renewal. You don't have to use route 53 as your registrar but you do have to prove domain ownership in order to get certificates. Source: over 2 years ago
  • Static Website Infrastructure on AWS with Terraform
    AWS Certificate Manager for securing the website and managing the ssl certificate. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing OpenSSL and AWS Certificate Manager, you can also consider the following products

jQuery - The Write Less, Do More, JavaScript Library.

Google Authenticator - Google Authenticator is a multifactor app for mobile devices.

React Native - A framework for building native apps with React

Authy - Best rated Two-Factor Authentication smartphone app for consumers, simplest 2fa Rest API for developers and a strong authentication platform for the enterprise.

Babel - Babel is a compiler for writing next generation JavaScript.

Azure Multi-Factor Authentication - Azure Multi-Factor Authentication helps safeguard access to data and applications while meeting user demand for a simple sign-in process.