Securing PostgreSQL Connections with OpenSSL and Pgcli

OpenSSL provides the cryptographic backbone. It handles SSL/TLS protocols, generates certificates, and ensures your data in transit cannot be read by unauthorized eyes. In PostgreSQL workflows, OpenSSL is the standard choice for securing connections. Without it, you risk interception, tampering, and data loss.

Pgcli is the fast, feature‑rich command‑line client for PostgreSQL. It offers auto‑completion, syntax highlighting, and a responsive interface to navigate large databases quickly. Pgcli supports secure connections out of the box, and using OpenSSL with it is straightforward if you know the steps.

To use OpenSSL with Pgcli, you need SSL enabled on your PostgreSQL server. Configure postgresql.conf to set ssl = on and point to your server.crt and server.key, both generated with OpenSSL. Then, in your client connection string, specify sslmode=require or the appropriate mode for your security policies. Pgcli will respect these settings and negotiate the encrypted channel automatically.

For stronger setups, implement mutual TLS. Generate client certificates with OpenSSL, add them to the Pgcli connection configuration, and adjust PostgreSQL’s pg_hba.conf to require cert authentication. This blocks unverified connections at the transport layer before any SQL runs.

By combining OpenSSL’s robust crypto engine with Pgcli’s fast interface, you gain speed without sacrificing protection. Both tools are mature, actively maintained, and well‑supported, making them reliable for production environments.

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