What Is RTMPS?

If you’re involved in live streaming, you’ve probably heard of RTMP. It’s a protocol that’s been around for a while and is widely used for live streaming. But have you heard of RTMPS? It’s a newer version of RTMP that adds an extra layer of security to your live streams. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at what RTMPS is and why you might want to use it.

What is RTMP?

Before we dive into RTMPS, let’s first talk about RTMP. RTMP stands for Real-Time Messaging Protocol, and it’s a protocol used for streaming audio, video, and data over the internet. It was developed by Adobe Systems and is widely used for live streaming.

RTMP works by establishing a connection between a client (such as a live streaming software) and a server (such as a streaming platform). The client sends audio, video, or data to the server, which then distributes it to viewers who are watching the stream.

What is RTMPS?

RTMPS is a newer version of RTMP that adds an extra layer of security to your live streams. The “S” in RTMPS stands for “Secure,” and it uses SSL/TLS encryption to protect your streams from being intercepted by unauthorized users.

SSL/TLS encryption works by encrypting the data being sent between the client and server. This means that even if someone intercepts the data, they won’t be able to read it without the encryption key.

Why use RTMPS?

So why would you want to use RTMPS instead of RTMP? The main reason is security. By using SSL/TLS encryption, you can ensure that your live streams are protected from unauthorized access.

This is especially important if you’re streaming sensitive content, such as financial information or private events. Without encryption, anyone could intercept your stream and potentially access this sensitive information.

Another reason to use RTMPS is that some streaming platforms require it. For example, Facebook Live requires the use of RTMPS for all live streams. If you want to stream to Facebook Live, you’ll need to use RTMPS.

How to use RTMPS

Using RTMPS is similar to using RTMP. The main difference is that you’ll need to configure your streaming software to use SSL/TLS encryption.

Most streaming software, such as OBS and Wirecast, support RTMPS out of the box. All you need to do is enter the RTMPS server URL and stream key provided by your streaming platform.

If your streaming software doesn’t support RTMPS, you can use a third-party tool such as stunnel to add SSL/TLS encryption to your stream.

Conclusion

In conclusion, RTMPS is a newer version of RTMP that adds an extra layer of security to your live streams. By using SSL/TLS encryption, you can ensure that your streams are protected from unauthorized access. If you’re streaming sensitive content or streaming to a platform that requires RTMPS, it’s definitely worth considering. Most streaming software supports RTMPS out of the box, so it’s easy to get started.