Breaking News: Prepare for 47-Day SSL/TLS Certificates

15 Apr ‘25

Breaking News: Prepare for 47-Day SSL/TLS Certificates 

Following up on our earlier insights into the evolving landscape of digital security, this week marks a significant shift. The CA/Browser Forum Ballot has officially passed, drastically reducing the maximum lifespan of publicly trusted SSL/TLS certificates to just 47 days in 2029.  

In the upcoming years the current lifespan of trusted SSL/TLS certificates of 398-day period is going to be reduced significantly. Eventually leading up to 47 days in 2029. 

This groundbreaking decision, announced today, will have profound implications for organizations of all sizes and across all industries. 

As we discussed in our previous blog post, “Shortening Lifespan of TLS Certificates: Preparing for a Future of Shorter Validity Periods,” the trend towards shorter certificate validity periods has been gaining momentum. This move by the CA/Browser Forum solidifies that future, accelerating the need for robust and automated certificate lifecycle management. 

The newly approved measure, initially proposed by Apple, will gradually reduce the maximum lifespan of TLS certificates from the current 398 days to 47 days in 2029 through the following phased implementation: 

• March 15, 2026: Maximum TLS certificate lifespan reduced to 200 days. This leads to a six-month renewal cadence. The Domain Control Validation (DCV) reuse period also reduces to 200 days.  

• March 15, 2027: Maximum TLS certificate lifespan further reduced to 100 days. This leads to a three-month renewal cadence. The DCV reuse period also reduces to 100 days.  

• March 15, 2029: Maximum TLS certificate lifespan will reach the final limit of 47 days. This leads to a one-month renewal cadence. The DCV reuse period will be reduced to 10 days.  

Nb. Domain Control Validation (DCV) is the process used by Certificate Authorities (CAs) to verify that the person or organization requesting an SSL/TLS certificate for a specific domain name actually controls or has the right to use that domain. 

What Does This Mean? The Key Implications 

The reduction from the current maximum of approximately 398 days to a mere 47 days in 2029 will necessitate a fundamental rethink of how organizations manage their digital certificates. Here’s a breakdown of the critical impacts: 

• Increased Frequency of Certificate Renewal: The most immediate and obvious impact is the need to renew SSL/TLS certificates much more frequently. This will significantly increase the administrative burden on IT and security teams. 

• Urgency for Automation: Manual certificate management processes will become unsustainable. The sheer volume of renewals will overwhelm teams. This could lead to potential outages, security vulnerabilities due to expired certificates, and increased operational costs. Automation of the entire certificate lifecycle – from issuance to renewal and revocation – will no longer be a luxury but a necessity. 

• Impact on Internal Procedures: Organizations will need to adapt their internal procedures to accommodate this rapid renewal cycle. This includes:  
  • Policy Updates: Revising security policies and procedures related to certificate management. 
  • Workflow Adjustments: Streamlining workflows for certificate requests, approvals, and installations. 
  • Resource Allocation: Potentially allocating more resources (human and technological) to certificate management. 
• Heightened Risk of Downtime: Without robust automation, the risk of website and application downtime due to expired certificates will dramatically increase. Even a short outage can have significant financial and reputational consequences. 

• Focus on Infrastructure Scalability and Agility: The new shorter lifespan will put a greater emphasis on having a scalable and agile Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) capable of handling frequent certificate operations without disruption. 

What This Means for You: Addressing Key Concerns 

We understand that this announcement will raise several questions and concerns for different stakeholders within your organization: 

• For Business Owners: This change necessitates an investment in automation and potentially additional resources. Failure to adapt can lead to costly website outages, damage brand reputation, and erode customer trust. The focus should be on ensuring business continuity and minimizing potential disruptions. Understanding the financial implications of downtime and the ROI of automation will be crucial. 

• For IT & Security Officers: The shorter lifespan, while intended to enhance security by limiting the window for potential key compromise, also introduces new challenges. Ensuring consistent and timely certificate renewals across the entire infrastructure is paramount to maintaining a strong security posture. Implementing robust monitoring and alerting systems will be critical to prevent security incidents caused by expired certificates. Compliance with industry regulations might also require adjustments to reflect this new standard. 

• For IT Professionals: IT teams will be at the forefront of implementing these changes. This means evaluating and deploying certificate lifecycle management (CLM) tools, integrating them with existing infrastructure, and potentially re-architecting systems to better handle frequent certificate operations. The focus will be on automation, scalability, and ensuring seamless certificate deployment and renewal across all environments. This may involve significant technical adjustments and training for IT staff. 

Your Next Course of Action: Preparing for the Change 

The 47-day maximum lifespan will not take effect immediately. However, organizations must start preparing now to avoid significant challenges down the line. We recommend the following immediate steps: 

1. Assess Your Current Certificate Landscape: Gain a comprehensive understanding of all the SSL/TLS certificates your organization uses, their current expiry dates, and the processes you have in place for managing them. 
2. Evaluate Your Automation Capabilities: Identify areas where your current certificate management processes are manual and prone to error. Explore and evaluate Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) solutions that can automate the entire certificate lifecycle. 
3. Develop a Migration Strategy: Outline a plan for transitioning to a fully automated certificate management environment. This should include timelines, resource allocation, and key milestones. 
4. Engage with Your Certificate Providers: Understand the implications of this change with your current Certificate Authorities (CAs) and explore their offerings for automated certificate management. 
5. Stay Informed: Keep abreast of further announcements and best practices related to this change from the CA/Browser Forum and industry experts. 

At KeyTalk, we understand the complexities of managing digital certificates, and we are here to help you navigate this transition. Our Certificate Key Management System (CKMS) solution is designed to automate and streamline your certificate lifecycle, ensuring a smooth and secure transition to this new era of shorter validity periods. 

FAQ: Some common questions asked by people 

• Why are SSL/TLS certificate lifespans being shortened?  

The primary reason is to enhance security. Shorter validity periods reduce the window of opportunity for compromised private keys to be exploited. If a key is compromised, it will be valid for a much shorter time, limiting the potential damage. It also encourages more frequent updates to cryptographic algorithms and security practices. 

• When will the 47-day maximum certificate lifespan take effect?  

While the CA/Browser Forum ballot has passed, there will likely be a transition period in the upcoming years. Each year the lifespan of TLS/SSL certificates is being reduced. The 47-day maximum certificate lifespan is set to March 15, 2029. 

• Will this affect all types of SSL/TLS certificates?  

This ballot specifically targets publicly trusted SSL/TLS certificates. Private certificates used within an organization’s internal network might not be subject to the same restrictions, but adopting shorter lifespans for internal certificates can also improve overall security. 

• What happens if I don’t renew my certificate in time?  

If your SSL/TLS certificate expires, users will encounter security warnings when trying to access your website or application. This can lead to a loss of trust, decreased traffic, and potential business disruptions. 

• Is manual renewal still an option?  

While technically possible for a small number of certificates, manual renewal every 47 days will be highly inefficient and prone to errors for most organizations. Automation is strongly recommended. 

• How can automation help with shorter certificate lifespans?  

Automation tools can handle the entire certificate lifecycle, including requesting, issuing, installing, monitoring, and renewing certificates automatically. This eliminates the manual burden, reduces the risk of human error, and ensures continuous security and availability. 

The move to 47-day SSL/TLS certificates is a significant step towards a more secure digital environment. By understanding the implications and proactively adopting automation, organizations can navigate this change effectively and maintain a strong security posture. 

Summary 

The blog post discusses the CA/Browser Forum’s approval of a measure that will significantly reduce the maximum lifespan of publicly trusted SSL/TLS certificates to 47 days by March 2029, through a phased approach starting in March 2026. This shift requires organizations to move towards automated certificate lifecycle management due to the increased frequency of renewals. The post outlines the implications for business, security, and IT departments, emphasizing the need to prepare now to avoid operational issues and security risks. It also includes an FAQ addressing common questions about the upcoming changes. 

For more information, please contact KeyTalk and we will be happy to inform you how our platform can help you with this. Also, you can read more about our TLS/SSL CLM solution.