LDAP vs. LDAPS: What’s the Difference?

Last updated on July 17, 2025

The main difference between LDAP and LDAPS is that LDAPS is more secure than LDAP. This is because LDAPS is essentially LDAP encrypted using TLS/SSL as a wrapper. For that reason, LDAPS is also called LDAP over SSL or Secure LDAP.

What is LDAP?

Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) is a directory protocol that applications can use to speak to an LDAP server such as Microsoft Active Directory. The LDAP protocol is not secure against cyberattacks because it transmits data without encryption. This allows attackers to spy on the connection and intercept packets sent over a network. We call that packet sniffing. Attackers can also perform a full-on Man-in-the-Middle (MiTM) attack, thereby manipulating, modifying, and replacing unencrypted LDAP packets.

What is LDAPS?

LDAP does not encrypt packages sent between the client and server. In contrast, LDAPS encrypts all LDAP attributes, including user credentials. Packet encryption safeguards the data from credential theft and makes packet sniffing and MiTM attacks harder to perform.

LDAPS uses TLS (Transport Layer Security) or SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) to encrypt LDAP packets. SSL and TLS are cryptographic protocols that establish a secure connection between client and server using certificates. LDAPS helps to make the communication between the client and server confidential so that data cannot be seen by a third party. TLS also provides authenticity (so that both parties can be sure they talk to who they want) and integrity (so that messages are not modified in transit).

TLS is the newer version of SSL. SSL is generally deprecated; you should use TLS instead. Of course, there are more differences between TLS and SSL.

What’s the Difference Between LDAP and LDAPS?

The following table summarizes the most important differences between LDAP vs. LDAPS.

LDAP	LDAPS
LDAP is an abbreviation of Lightweight Directory Access Protocol.	LDAPS stands for LDAP over SSL or Secure LDAP.
LDAP uses TCP as a transmission protocol.	LDAPS uses TLS/SSL as a transmission protocol.
LDAP operates on port 389.	LDAPS operates on port 636.
LDAP does not encrypt communications between client and server by default.	LDAPS encrypts all attributes thanks to using TLS as a wrapper.

LDAP vs. LDAPS: Key Differences

1. Security Authentication

• LDAP: Transmits data, including user credentials, in plaintext, which can expose sensitive information to interception.
• LDAPS: Employs SSL/TLS protocols to encrypt data during transmission, safeguarding credentials and other sensitive information from unauthorized access.

2. Setup Complexity

• LDAP: Offers a straightforward setup process, as it does not require the configuration of SSL/TLS certificates.
• LDAPS: Necessitates the implementation and management of SSL/TLS certificates, adding complexity but significantly enhancing security.

3. Performance

• LDAP: Without the overhead of encryption, LDAP can deliver faster performance and reduce resource consumption.
• LDAPS: The encryption and decryption processes introduce additional computational overhead, which may slightly impact performance.

4. Port Numbers

• LDAP: Operates by default over TCP/IP using port 389.
• LDAPS: Utilizes port 636 for secure communications.

5. Server Authentication

• LDAP: Lacks inherent server authentication, making it susceptible to man-in-the-middle attacks.
• LDAPS: Allows clients to verify server identities through SSL/TLS certificates, ensuring connections to legitimate servers and mitigating certain security risks.

Advantages of LDAPS over LDAP

The benefits of using LDAPS are:

1. LDAPS is more secure. LDAPS significantly improves the confidentiality, integrity, and authenticity of data sent between clients and servers.
2. LDAPS encrypts all data. LDAPS encrypts all LDAP attributes, whereas LDAP does not encrypt anything.
3. LDAPS uses TLS encryption. TLS encryption prevents eavesdropping and tampering with data.

LDAPS and Active Directory

Active Directory supports both LDAP and LDAPS. A common mistake is to use Active Directory and LDAP (or LDAPS) interchangeably. These two are not the same thing. There are many differences between LDAP vs. Active Directory.

Enhancing LDAP Security with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)

While LDAPS encrypts data transmissions to secure communications between clients and servers, implementing Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) adds an extra layer of protection. MFA requires users to verify their identity through multiple methods before granting access, significantly reducing the risk of unauthorized entry.

For organizations utilizing LDAP, integrating MFA for LDAP ensures that even if user credentials are compromised, unauthorized access is prevented. This approach strengthens security and aligns with best practices for protecting sensitive directory information.

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