Machines speak in secrets. Those secrets travel through TLS, and every weak cipher, misplaced certificate, or loose handshake leaks them. Privacy by default in TLS configuration is the baseline for trust — no exceptions, no compromises.
A strong TLS configuration starts with the correct protocol version. Disable TLS 1.0 and 1.1. Support only TLS 1.2 and TLS 1.3. TLS 1.3 offers faster handshakes, eliminates legacy weaknesses, and enforces modern cipher suites. This removes obsolete algorithms that attackers scan for first.
Choose cipher suites with forward secrecy. For TLS 1.2, prefer ECDHE over static key exchanges, and AES-GCM over CBC. In TLS 1.3, the suite list is fixed and already excludes outdated choices. Avoid RSA key exchange entirely. Forward secrecy means past conversations stay locked even if private keys are compromised later.
Certificates must be strong and short-lived. Use 2048-bit or greater RSA keys or curve25519 for ECDSA. Rotate them before expiration to limit exposure. Enable OCSP stapling to deliver revocation checks immediately to clients. Ensure your CA is trusted and reputable.