If IIS (Windows) or Apache (UNIX) is configured to support SSL, then the communication between users and the Blackboard Academic Suite can be configured using the SSL Choice feature. SSL Choice allows Administrators to determine if none, all, or some of the Blackboard Learning System is secured with SSL.
Note: If the SSL Choice is set to use SSL before SSL is configured in IIS or Apache the Blackboard Academic Suite will not be accessible! To ensure that users can always login, configure IIS or Apache for SSL prior to changing the security options on the SSL Choice page. Please see the Blackboard Academic Suite Setup Guide for your operating system to learn how to install and configure SSL.
If planning on using SSL, Blackboard recommends enforcing SSL on the entire system. This ensures that all proprietary data is secured. If the choice option is chosen, it is important to update SSL settings whenever a new tool is enabled or a System Extension added.
Select SSL Choice from the Security and Integration section of the System Control Panel.
The table below details the fields on the SSL Choice page.
|
Field |
Description |
|
Entire System |
|
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Disable SSL System-wide |
Select this option and SSL will not be used to secure any of the communication between users and the Blackboard Academic Suite. |
|
Enable SSL System-wide |
Select this option and SSL will be used to secure all of the communication between users and the Blackboard Academic Suite. |
|
Enable SSL for the following areas |
Select this option to determine which areas of the Blackboard Academic Suite will be secured through SSL. Select the different areas from the check boxes on this page. |
|
System Specific Areas |
|
|
Select the check box for each area that should be secured using SSL. |
|
|
Blackboard Tools |
|
|
Select the check box for each tool, tab, or course content area that should be secured using SSL. |
|
|
System Extension Tools |
|
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Select the check box for each System Extension that should be secured using SSL. |
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