The Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protocol is a cryptographic protocol that provides communication security over the Internet. It allows a client and a server to communicate in a way designed to prevent eavesdropping by authenticating the server or the client.
SSL and application layer protocols work independently. Connections of application layer protocols, such as Syslog, can be established based on SSL handshakes. Before a client and a server use an application layer protocol to communicate, SSL is used to determine cryptography, negotiate a key, and authenticate the server. Data that is then transmitted using the application layer protocol between the client and the server will be encrypted, thereby protecting privacy.