SSL/TLS certificates valid for 90 days, what does this change mean for your company?
SSL/TLS certificates are critical for Internet security as they enable server authentication and data encryption.
Recently, Google made a proposal that may have a material effect on the way these certificates are managed.
The company has suggested that the validity of SSL/TLS certificates used for securing websites and other web communication be reduced to just 90 days. Currently, the certificates have a maximum validity of 13 months, or 398 days.
SSL/TLS Certificates Valid for 90 Days: The Impact of the Change for Enterprises
The reduction in the validity of valid SSL/TLS certificates for 90 days represents a significant milestone that will redefine how companies manage their online security.
This change implies a substantial increase in the frequency of renewal of certificates, from once a year or even less to once every three months.
Firstly, this scenario will demand an increase in the workload of IT teams, since certificate renewal tasks will become more frequent.
This increased workload could lead to a higher risk of human error. The consequences of these errors, such as the inadvertent expiration of certificates, can be severe, resulting in service interruptions and negatively impacting the user experience and the company’s reputation.
Manual management of Digital SSL/TLS certificates aggravates the change scenario
Manually managing Digital SSL/TLS certificates, especially in large organizations, can become a major challenge in the face of Google’s proposed change.
Companies that still rely on manual processes to manage their certificates may find themselves in a difficult scenario to keep up with the necessary renewals.
This scenario can lead to an unwanted increase in expired certificates, creating security vulnerabilities, affecting customer trust and potentially attracting legal penalties for non-compliance.
On the other hand…
Reducing the expiration date of certificates makes it more difficult for cybercriminals to use fraudulent certificates, providing an overall increase in Internet security.
However, this benefit may be overshadowed by the challenges and risks that companies will face in maintaining compliance with the proposed renewal frequency.
Therefore, the new proposal emphasizes the need for efficient, automated certificate management that can keep up with the fast pace of renewals and minimize the risk of human error.
The Importance of Efficient SSL/TLS Certificate Management
Google’s proposal to reduce the validity of valid SSL/TLS Certificates by 90 days further emphasizes the importance of managing certificates effectively.
With certificate renewal occurring at an almost quarterly rate, it is essential to have a solid and efficient management system in place.
In fact, inadequate certificate management can lead to a number of problems, each with its own set of risks.
Besides the loss of trust and possible penalties, non-compliance with business requirements already puts any company at risk. Inefficient SSL/TLS certificate management, on the other hand, can cause even more problems.
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Service interruptions
Expired SSL certificates can have serious consequences for business, resulting in service interruptions, reduced availability, and damage to the company’s reputation.
SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) is a protocol that guarantees the security of online transactions by encrypting the data transferred between user and server.
When the SSL certificate expires, the web server will not be able to communicate securely, and users will receive warning messages about the site not being secure.
This means that users will not be able to access the website or application, which can lead to loss of customers and reduced sales.
In addition, users visiting the site with an expired SSL certificate may question the security of the site and the credibility of the company.
This can have serious consequences for the company’s reputation, as users will not trust the site or the transactions they perform.
Therefore, it is important that SSL certificates are renewed before expiration to ensure that security and availability are maintained.
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Security Threats:
Expired or mismanaged SSL/TLS certificates can become a gateway for cyber attacks, putting sensitive company and customer data at risk.
These certificates are used to encrypt sensitive information transmitted between the company’s server and its customers’ computers so that it cannot be read by third parties.
If the certificate expires or is not managed properly, the data can be intercepted by malicious people. This can result in theft of confidential information, violation of privacy, and even data leakage.
In addition, attackers can also use expired or mismanaged SSL/TLS certificates to install malware and thus compromise the company’s system.
Therefore, it is essential that SSL/TLS certificates are regularly updated and effectively managed to prevent them from becoming a gateway for cyber attacks.
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Waste of time and resources:
Managing certificates manually can consume a significant amount of time and human resources, especially when renewal needs to happen every 90 days.
This can affect the company’s operational efficiency.
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Problems with SEO:
A website with an expired certificate can be penalized by search engines, affecting its visibility and consequently reducing visitor traffic and potential customers.
Each of these points highlights the crucial importance of effective certificate management for maintaining security and continuous business operation.
Keyfactor Command: Discover, manage and automate the lifecycle of every SSL/TLS certificate in your enterprise
In this constantly evolving cybersecurity landscape, the Keyfactor Command solution emerges as an important resource for efficiency and reliability.
Designed with a mission to provide efficient and secure management of SSL/TLS certificates, the Keyfactor Command platform is more than just a tool. It is a reliable partner in strengthening your company’s cybersecurity posture.
Keyfactor Command enables Technology teams to comprehensively and effectively manage all aspects of the SSL/TLS certificate lifecycle, from issuance to renewal.
With its centralized certificate management capability, Keyfactor Command eliminates the need for costly manual management effort. It thus makes certificate management a task that can be accomplished in minutes, not days.
But efficiency is not the only quality that distinguishes Keyfactor Command
The platform also stands out for its ability to seamlessly integrate with multiple certificate authorities (CAs), ensuring that certificate management is not a full-time chore.
This frees up valuable staff resources to focus on other critical areas of your security infrastructure.
In practice, the Keyfactor Command solution offers unprecedented control over digital identities in your organization. This helps strengthen the cybersecurity posture and meet compliance standards.
With the possibility of a move to 90-day validity for TLS certificates, having a solution like Keyfactor Command is more than just convenient, it is essential.
Eval is partner official partner Keyfactor
Keyfactor is a leading identity management and access security solutions company. It helps organizations around the world protect their information and ensure the integrity of their systems.
As an official Keyfactor partner, Eval is committed to helping our customers implement effective security practices. Our goal is to ensure the protection of code signing keys and compliance with industry standards.
Contact Eval to learn more about how our partnership with Keyfactor can help you strengthen your software security and ensure the integrity of your operations.
About Eval
Eval has been developing projects in the financial, health, education, and industry segments for over 18 years. Since 2004, we have offered solutions for Authentication, Electronic and Digital Signature, and Data Protection. Currently, we are present in the main Brazilian banks, health institutions, schools and universities, and different industries.
With market recognized value, Eval’s solutions and services meet the highest regulatory standards for public and private organizations, such as SBIS, ITI, PCI DSS, and LGPD. In practice, we promote information security and compliance, increase companies’ operational efficiency, and reduce costs.
Innovate now, lead always: get to know Eval’s solutions and services and take your company to the next level.
Eval, safety is value.
