TLS Certificate validity reduced to 45 days?

At the moment, the TLS/SSL certificate lifespan is a maximum of 398 days. Reducing the lifespan of digital certificates will enhance the overall security posture. However, it will also bring operational challenges, especially for organizations dealing with a high number of certificates daily. Recently, Apple proposed to the CA Browser forum to reduce the validity of TLS certificates to 45 days starting in 2027. Before this, Google announced it would reduce the certificate validity to 90 days.

All these developments indicate a major shift in how organizations will manage digital certificates in the future. This could be a good opportunity to explore new challenges and develop strategies organizations might need to adapt to navigate this new terrain. 

Now, let’s talk about the Timeline to prepare for lifespan reduction:

Apple has clearly outlined a roadmap for moving toward shorter validity periods; it won’t cut the time all at once to 45-day lifespans but will do so in stages. By doing this, the changeover becomes more gradual. 

The important factor that can bring changes in this transition is a role that can be played by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), or to be more precise, Domain Control Validation (DCV). This involves the Certificate Authority’s verification of the requestor’s domain. It’s an essential condition to issue or deploy any SSL/TLS certificate. While reusing DCV will permit bypassing of re-validation in certain conditions, changes in the reuse period will take place and will surely affect businesses adapting to shorter certificate lifespans.

The following are key milestones that enterprises should note during preparation concerning the probable 45-day lifespan of a certificate: 

September 15, 2025: The lifetime of certificates will be cut to 200 days in case Apple’s proposal gets adopted, with an early renewal period of 20 days. The reuse period for DCV will also be extended to 200 days. 

September 16, 2026: Certificate validity will be shortened to 100 days after using 200-day lifetimes for one year, with an allowance of up to an additional 10 days for early renewal. The period for reuse of a DCV will be shortened to 100 days.

Mid-to-late September 2027: Certificates will have the proposed 45-day lifetime in this key milestone of Apple’s plan; the DCV reuse period will be shortened to 10 days. These changes mark the importance of being informed and adapting to the evolving practices of certificate management. Enterprises should continue to be vigilant and prepare for these incremental yet impactful updates. 

Implications of Apple’s 45-day proposal

Apple’s proposal for a 45-day certificate validity has significant implications for cybersecurity and operational processes in every industry.

1. Strengthened Security 

Shorter validity period usage minimizes the exposure of compromised certificates to attackers since it reduces the timeframe wherein already compromised private keys can be used maliciously. If any of the certificates get compromised, its reduced life span reduces the potential for damage. 

Frequent renewals encourage better adherence to security best practices that keep organizations agile and current in a rapidly changing threat landscape. 

Shorter lifetimes reduce the number of vulnerabilities introduced over time due to cryptographic weakening and/or improper handling of revocation.

2. Greater Operational Challenges 

Certificates that last 45 days will greatly increase the renewal volume, which can be very unmanageable by an IT team using manual processes. 

With few exceptions, it is often hard for smaller organizations to keep pace, with the risk of service interruption or failure in compliance. 

Since frequent renewals would place stress on organizations for smooth and error-free processing, this will be possible only with automation by utilizing certificate management solutions.

3. Strategic Adjustments for Businesses

Organizations have to review their current certificate management processes and create a shift towards automation for the continuity of operations with security compliance. 

Increased investment in tools and infrastructure to support automated management will strain budgets but may pay off through longer-term operational efficiencies. 

The increased issuance of certificates demands more robust monitoring systems to ensure that service lapses, expirations, or misconfigurations do not take down the services.

Security Challenges with Shorter Certificate Lifespan

Security challenges include handling exisiting legacy systems, automating certificate management processes, and managing resource constraints, which become increasingly critical as certificate validity periods shrink.

1. Legacy Systems and Non-Automated Environments

Manual renewal strategies at organizations, which were somewhat manageable at a 398-day lifetime, will be untenable as the validity period shrinks. Manual renewals generally lead to expired certificates or misconfigurations, leading to service disruptions or security vulnerabilities. With Legacy systems, you see some unique challenges:

• Incompatibility with Automation: Legacy systems lack support for tools such as ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment). 
• Scalability Issues: Most of these legacy infrastructures are incapable of scaling up. Therefore, managing the increased volume of certificates required due to shorter lifespans is not feasible. 

2. Burden to Small Businesses and Resource-Constrained Organizations

Smaller organizations, which often have limited IT resources, stand to be disproportionately affected by the transition to shorter lifespans for certificates. Frequent renewals without automated systems increase the chances of a certificate expiring and thus going into downtime, which may be insecure. The small business may not have the technical manpower or the budget to implement automation solutions and thus could be at risk operationally as well as in terms of security.

To overcome these challenges, organizations must prioritize adapting automation protocols like ACME to reduce manual workloads and minimize human error. Organizations should also plan to decommission legacy systems and invest in newer infrastructure for compatibility and scalability.  

Prepare now for a shorter Certificate Lifespan with Encryption Consulting

Encryption Consulting’s advisory services will help you strategize with immediate actions and long-term planning, and our certificate lifecycle management solution called CertSecure Manager will help you automate the complete certificate lifecycle management process. Let’s get to the details: 

Although the key dates highlighted above seem distant, transitioning to an automated solution takes time and planning.

Short-term planning

Automation is no longer an option; with new security requirements, it’s a need for every organization. We can help you prepare for the following:

• Evaluate Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) Solutions: Assess and select your CLM solution, such as CertSecure Manager,  that aligns with your organization’s broader security goals to reduce manual tasks and improve efficiency. 
• Audit Existing Systems: If automation is already implemented, conduct a thorough audit to ensure the infrastructure can handle the increased renewal demands associated with shorter validity periods. 
• Adjust Workflows: Begin transitioning manual processes to automated ones, prioritizing scalability and minimizing human error.

Long-term planning

Beyond immediate adjustments, a strategic approach to certificate management is critical for sustained success:

• Focus on Scalability and Agility: Implement solutions that can adapt to evolving certificate standards and an expanding digital environment. 
• Maximize ROI on Automation: Develop a roadmap for long-term usage of automated tools, ensuring the investment delivers enhanced efficiency and security. 
• Future-Proof Systems: Design infrastructure with flexibility in mind, allowing for seamless adaptation to further industry changes or technological advancements.

EC’s Certificate Lifecycle Management Solution – CertSecure Manager

CertSecure Manager is a true vendor-neutral solution that automates the entire SSL/TLS certificate lifecycle from issuance and discovery to deployment and one-click renewal. It can easily handle many SSL/TLS certificates; with CertSecure Manger’s centralized dashboard, you gain real-time visibility into all your certificates, eliminating manual workloads and minimizing the risk of unexpected expirations.  

Prepare for the future of certificate lifecycle management today by experiencing our certificate lifecycle management solution: CertSecure Manager. Request a demo today.