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# Shield.prototype.encryptedBackend

▸ **encryptedBackend**(configuration?): `Backend`

Returns a `Backend` representing an encrypted connection to the POP.

For reference, this is almost always the backend that you want to use. Only use [`Shield::unencryptedBackend`](./unencryptedBackend.mdx) in situations in which you are 100% sure that all the data you will send and receive over the backend is already encrypted.

## Parameters

- `configuration` _: object_ _**optional**_
  - `firstByteTimeout` _: number_ _**optional**_
    - An optional first byte timeout (in milliseconds) to set on the returned backend.
