The Cisco Content Switching Module with SSL (CSM-S) provides a solution combining Layer 4-7 content switching with Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) acceleration on a single line card for the Cisco Catalyst 6500 Series Switch. By combining these two technologies, the CSM-S offers secure end-to-end connections to applications while also providing advanced content-switching features. With this integration, the Cisco CSM-S can use information typically encrypted in the data field or header of an SSL session to make load-balancing decisions. This integration also allows the content switch to provide more flexible session persistence using information beyond the SSL session ID. This can be accomplished within a single module while ensuring all information on the network remains encrypted, a requirement for any business working with sensitive customer information such as financial data or medical records.Moving the SSL termination from back-end servers removes the high processor load from those servers and eliminates the requirement to add additional servers to address increasing SSL requirements. Processing of SSL in a central device such as the Cisco CSM-S also reduces the number of digital certificates required, in turn minimizing the effort needed to manage those certificates.