The evolving SSL/TLS certificate lifecycle & how to manage the changes

Certificates are not static tools; they are dynamic security solutions that call for nuanced strategies reflecting their wide range of capabilities and possible risks. These PKI-based certificates form a critical component of modern public key infrastructure (PKI) solutions as they help to verify identities and encrypt communications over the internet.

Since SSL/TLS certificates play such a crucial role in overall cybersecurity, it’s important for anyone who may deal with them to fully understand the certificate lifecycle and the possible impact of mismanagement. The SSL/TLS lifecycle refers to a series of steps or stages that certificates will undergo as they deliver the benefits of encryption and authentication. Read further to understand the purpose of each lifecycle stage, how the upcoming reduction in digital certificate validity periods will impact the overall lifecycle, and how automated management can help organizations prepare for this change.

The SSL/TLS certificate lifecycle stages

Understanding the SSL/TLS certificate lifecycle begins with recognizing the purpose of SSL/TLS certificates. Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) / Transport Layer Security (TLS) represent security protocols meant to enable encrypted communication between devices, websites, or servers. SSL/TLS certificates are issued by Certificate Authorities (CAs), which confirm the validity of would-be certificate holders, and are designed to both increase trust and help safeguard against possible security issues.

From the moment they are created to the moment they expire (or revoked), every SSL/TLS certificate within an environment must be managed properly to help ensure uninterrupted operations. To illustrate their complexity, we explore each of the certificate lifecycle stages and how they work below.

1. Request and enrollment

In this stage, a user or entity requests an SSL/TLS certificate. This process kicks off when the requester submits a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), which contains critical information about the domina name and/or organization requesting the certificate. This includes:

• The identity of the organization (a domain name)
• Specific organization details like Organization Name (or legal name)

The CSR is submitted to the CA vendor, which is then tasked with validating the domain and/or organization that has requested the digital certificate. The certificate enrollment process is completed as soon as the CA validates the initial request. Depending on the type of SSL certificate requested, validation may take a few short minutes or could require a few days for additional information to be reviewed and verified.

2. Issuance and provisioning

Once the CA vendor has verified thedomain and/or organization r, they can issue the certificate. During the issuance and provisioning stage, the CA issues the certificate to the entity that requested it. The CA digitally signs the certificate, which confirms the authenticity of the certificate.

The provisioning process also involves installing the certificate. For example, with a website, the installation happens digitally on the site’s server.

3. Usage and monitoring

Once the certificate has been issued and installed, it can actually be put to use. The requester uses the certificate to interact with other users, devices, browsers, and websites.

Each time the certificate is used, the monitoring system generates usage data. Certificates should be continuously monitored to confirm certificate status and ensure renewal or revocation happens when necessary. This is important for confirming not only that certificates are active but also for securing details about upcoming certificate expirations. When monitoring is done manually, this leaves a lot of room for error. Automated certificate lifecycle management solutions can bring much needed structure to the monitoring process.

4. Expiration and renewal

Certificates must be renewed when they’ve reached the end of their validity period. This final stage in the lifecycle is imperative to avoiding expired certificates. A seamless renewal process must be put into practice and needs to be done in a timely fashion to avoid connectivity problems. Certificate outages can lead to gaps — not to mention, the costs and possible reputational damage of downtime.

The certificate renewal process can be initiated by the certificate holder or the CA. This may call for further verification of details initially provided during the enrollment phase. Information may need to be updated if changes have occurred since the original certificate was issued. After the certificate is renewed, the requester receives a new one. Like the original one, the new certificate comes with a digital stamp of the CA, which verifies its legitimacy.

Other management steps to consider

The following phases aren’t technically stages in the lifecycle of an SSL/TLS certificate, but they are integral parts of the certificate management process.

Discovery and cataloging

There are several important considerations to keep in mind prior to issuance. Before new certificates are issued, it is important to determine which certificates already exist.

Unknown certificates can lead to security vulnerabilities and gaps in protection if they are not handled properly. Comprehensive certificate discovery drives maximum visibility and, while many organizations have opted for manual discovery processes in the past, the sheer abundance of certificates and upcoming change to shorter validity periods calls for an automated approach to the discovery process.

Revocation and reissuance

Digital certificates may need to be replaced or reissued before they expire. Because information for already issued certificates cannot be changed, it may be necessary to replace the original certificate if the domain name is changed — or if the registered name is changed. This may also be necessary if security breaches call for revocation.

The process of revocation and reissuance must also be completed in a timely manner when needed to avoid security issues.

Reduction in SSL/TLS certificate validity periods

The overall process described above has been relatively consistent over time, but changes in the SSL/TLS lifecycle timeline are coming. Moving forward, the same elements will remain necessary, but the certificate lifespans will shrink. Validity periods will soon last just 90 days compared to the current 398 days. These reduced lifespans aren't arbitrary; this approach can spark major benefits from a security standpoint. Chief among these: smaller windows of opportunities in which bad actors may otherwise leverage already compromised certificates.

These shortened lifespans also present a unique opportunity: motivation to make the most of the current shift towards automation and crypto agility. This is a powerful step on the path to addressing the quantum cryptography challenges of tomorrow.

Despite these benefits, there are definite concerns that must be addressed as certificate lifespans shrink. This begins with recognizing that each of the aforementioned steps in the digital certificate lifecycle will need to be completed much more frequently. Without an automated solution in place, this will dramatically increase IT needs and time commitments.

Impact on Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM)

As certificate lifespans shrink, it is increasingly clear that manual certificate management processes are no longer sufficient. These processes have always been time-consuming, but with IT departments overstretched and certificate expirations happening much more often, anything that can pick up the pace should be considered.

How automated CLM can help

Automated certificate lifecycle management promises an easy-to-implement solution to today's digital certificate challenges. From discovery to issuance, renewal, and even revocation, automated CLM tools handle each stage of the lifecycle and deliver streamlined solutions. These efficient workflows limit the potential for human error as the 90 day SSL/TLS certificate validity period goes into effect.

Automating the management of certificate lifecycles also allows for a significant degree of scalability to accommodate growing enterprises and escalating certificate requirements.

Easily manage SSL/TLS certificate lifecycles with Sectigo

As SSL/TLS certificates evolve, businesses across numerous sectors will realize that automated certificate management is no longer a nice-to-have but rather a necessity. The correct CLM platform can spark dramatic improvements in operational efficiency while also producing a stronger security posture.

Sectigo Certificate Manager (SCM) is an effective CLM tool that simplifies management and automates tasks across the entire certificate lifespan. SCM provides complete visibility of all your certificates, both public and private, in one single place. Schedule a demo today or sign up for a free trial.

Want to learn more? Get in touch to book a demo of Sectigo Certificate Manager!