How to Check TLS Version on Windows Server

Hello Dev, welcome to this comprehensive guide on how to check TLS version on Windows Server. Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol that secures communication over computer networks. TLS is widely used to secure HTTP traffic between a web server and a client browser. In this guide, we will discuss the various ways to check the TLS version on Windows Server.

Method 1: Using the Registry Editor

The registry editor is a powerful tool used to view and modify the Windows registry. The Windows registry contains configuration settings for the operating system and installed applications. You can use the registry editor to check the TLS version on Windows Server. Follow the steps below:

  1. Press the “Windows + R” key combination to open the “Run” dialog box.
  2. Type “regedit” in the text field and click “OK”. This will open the registry editor.
  3. Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols”.
  4. Under the “Protocols” folder, you will see folders for different protocols. Look for the folder corresponding to the TLS version you want to check. For example, if you want to check TLS 1.2, look for the folder named “TLS 1.2”.
  5. If the folder exists, it means that TLS 1.2 is enabled on your Windows Server. If the folder does not exist, it means that TLS 1.2 is not enabled.

You can repeat the above steps for other TLS versions to check their status on your Windows Server.

Method 2: Using the Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager

The Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager is a web server management tool that is included with Windows Server. You can use the IIS Manager to check the TLS version on your Windows Server. Follow the steps below:

  1. Open the IIS Manager by clicking the “Start” button and typing “IIS” in the search box. Click the “Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager” option.
  2. Expand the server node in the left pane and select the “Server Certificates” option.
  3. Select the certificate you want to check the TLS version for.
  4. Click the “Bindings” option on the right pane.
  5. Look for the “Protocol” column and check the TLS version for each binding.

You can repeat the above steps for other certificates to check their TLS version on your Windows Server.

Method 3: Using PowerShell

PowerShell is a powerful command-line tool that is included with Windows Server. You can use PowerShell to check the TLS version on your Windows Server. Follow the steps below:

  1. Open PowerShell by clicking the “Start” button and typing “PowerShell” in the search box. Click the “Windows PowerShell” option.
  2. Type the following command: Get-TlsCipherSuite | Select-Object Name, CipherType, Protocols
  3. Press “Enter”. This will display a list of all the TLS cipher suites and the protocols they support.
  4. Look for the TLS version you want to check and verify if it is supported by any of the cipher suites.

You can run the above command for other TLS versions to check their status on your Windows Server.

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FAQ

Question
Answer
What is TLS?
Transport Layer Security (TLS) is a cryptographic protocol that secures communication over computer networks. TLS is widely used to secure HTTP traffic between a web server and a client browser.
Why is it important to check the TLS version on Windows Server?
Checking the TLS version on Windows Server is important to ensure that your server is using the latest and most secure version of the protocol. This helps to protect your server and the data it transmits from security threats.
What are the different TLS versions?
The different TLS versions are TLS 1.0, TLS 1.1, TLS 1.2, and TLS 1.3.
How can I enable TLS 1.2 on Windows Server?
You can enable TLS 1.2 on Windows Server by following the steps below:
  1. Open the registry editor.
  2. Navigate to “HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\SecurityProviders\SCHANNEL\Protocols\TLS 1.2”.
  3. Create the following DWORD values: “Enabled”, “DisabledByDefault”, and “ClientDisabledByDefault”.
  4. Set the value of each DWORD to “1”.
  5. Restart the server.
What should I do if TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 are enabled on my Windows Server?
If TLS 1.0 and TLS 1.1 are enabled on your Windows Server, you should disable them and enable TLS 1.2 or TLS 1.3 instead. This helps to ensure that your server is using the latest and most secure version of the protocol.

That’s it, Dev! You now know how to check the TLS version on Windows Server using different methods. Remember, it is important to ensure that your server is using the latest and most secure version of the protocol to protect your data from security threats. If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below.