7. The future of SSH protocol operation

Until now, the best use of the SSH protocol has been to secure remote connections to application servers or network machines such as routers and access points. However, most of these network devices currently offer a simple access mechanism based on an unsecured Web interface. Hence the need to quickly find an easy-to-deploy security solution for users who are not necessarily experts in configuring these network devices.

Although SSH has the advantage of being deployed in most network equipment, the major suppliers of such equipment, such as CISCO and SIEMENS, have opted for the SSL/TLS protocol with HTTPS session establishment for secure sessions to the Web configuration servers embedded in this equipment. However, the SSL/TLS standard only integrates an authentication solution based on the deployment of a PKI with certification authority(ies). In closed environments,...