Mutual TLS in SingleStore

In an era where traditional password-based authentication is becoming less reliable due to the increasing complexity and distribution of systems, the adoption of mutual TLS (mTLS) offers a more secure alternative by establishing trust through cryptographic means. SingleStore has integrated mTLS as a native authentication mechanism for database users, which ensures that both server and client identities are verified during the TLS handshake through trusted Certificate Authorities (CAs). This model enhances security by tying trust to certificates rather than shared secrets and rejecting untrusted clients early in the connection process. SingleStore's approach involves configuring a cluster with a trusted CA bundle, issuing certificates to clients, and setting database users to require certificate-based authentication, with options for enforcing specific identity matches. This transition from shared secrets to certificate-based trust provides a stronger and more reliable foundation for secure access, particularly beneficial in regulated industries and systems handling sensitive operations.