Simplifying Certificate Management with ACME and KeyTalk’s Automation Technology

26 Jun ‘25

Introduction 

Managing digital certificates effectively is critical for maintaining security across web servers, devices, and enterprise systems. As organizations increasingly rely on encrypted communications and strong identity verification, automating certificate lifecycle management becomes vital.  

In this post, we will explore how ACME and KeyTalk CKMS work together seamlessly—delivering a complete, future-ready certificate automation solution. 

Why Automated Certificate Management is Crucial with Shorter Certificate Lifecycles 

Recent industry changes have shortened SSL/TLS certificate lifecycles from multiple years down to 397 days, with some certificates moving toward even shorter validity periods of 47 days on March 15, 2029.  

While this enhances security by reducing exposure to compromised keys, it also creates operational challenges—organizations now face more frequent renewals, increasing the risk of expired certificates causing service disruptions. 

Automated certificate management solutions like the ACME protocol and KeyTalk’s native patented agent solution are essential to address these challenges. Automation ensures seamless certificate issuance, renewal, and deployment, reducing manual errors and operational overhead.  

Especially for enterprises managing a wide range of certificates across servers, devices, and email, automation is key to maintaining security and business continuity in today’s fast-evolving certificate landscape. 

What is ACME? 

ACME, which stands for Automated Certificate Management Environment, is an open protocol defined by RFC 8555 that streamlines the process of obtaining and renewing SSL/TLS certificates for web servers. It automates key steps such as certificate issuance, renewal, and revocation by coordinating between clients and Certificate Authorities (CAs). 

Primarily focused on web security, the ACME protocol enables domain owners to prove control over their domain through simple challenges — like HTTP or DNS validation — eliminating manual certificate requests.  

ACME clients
As ACME is a protocol third party companies have built software to deliver its certificate management functionality. Popular ACME clients such as Certbot have widespread adoption, and many public CAs support ACME, making it a go-to protocol for automated SSL/TLS certificate management. KeyTalk has incorporated the ACME protocol support since 2023 when the ACME-server was introduced in the KeyTalk CKMS.  

The primary benefits of ACME protocol include automation that reduces the risk of certificate expiry, open protocol standards promoting broad compatibility, and easy integration with popular web servers like Apache and Nginx. However, ACME’s primary focus remains on automating web server certificate management, and it does not provide the advanced features needed for deep enterprise identity or device certificate management, which are typically handled by more specialized enterprise PKI solutions.  

What is KeyTalk CKMS

KeyTalk Certificate & Key Management System (CKMS) represents a comprehensive enterprise-grade solution focused on managing a broad spectrum of digital certificates and keys. The KeyTalk CKMS solution is based on a client/server model where the CKMS (server) manages the certificates, and the Agent (client) is installed on the end-point devices.

This agent-based software automates the issuance, deployment, renewal, and revocation of X.509 certificates — not only for SSL/TLS but also for S/MIME email security, device authentication, VPN access, and more. 

KeyTalk uses several protocols for certificate management and deployment, including its own REST API over HTTPS (TCP port 443, TLS 1.3), ACME (Automatic Certificate Management Environment), SCEP (Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol), native platform APIs, and custom REST APIs; it also supports standard authentication protocols like Kerberos and LDAP for user authentication, and can interact with certificate authorities via CA APIs for automated certificate issuance and renewal.

Unlike ACME’s native domain validation approach, KeyTalk integrates tightly with enterprise identity and access management systems such as Entra ID, Active Directory, LDAP, and RADIUS. This enables sophisticated authentication methods, including hardware-backed security modules like TPMs and HSMs. It also supports automated deployment of certificates and keys to various endpoints across Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile devices, streamlining secure device onboarding and compliance.

KeyTalk’s solution is well-suited for organizations that require comprehensive Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) automation beyond web servers — especially for use cases involving email security, endpoint management, and extensive reporting. As a commercial product, it often includes dedicated support services and flexible deployment options including cloud and on-premises appliances. 

Comparison Chart: ACME clients vs KeyTalk clients

To give a clear overview of how ACME clients and KeyTalk Agent compare we will investigate several features and find out how they fulfill that aspect.

By focusing on each feature, we want to determine what separates ACME clients from the KeyTalk.  Do note that some ACME clients offer and support more services than others depending on the implementation by its developer.

The list below mentions the most common features of ACME clients found.  Here is a summary of their key features and capabilities:

Feature-by-Feature Detailed Comparison 

For each feature we will go more in depth to see how open source or third-party ACME compares to the KeyTalk CKMS and vice versa. Giving more depth and comprehension to each mentioned feature enables you to get a better understanding and being able to understand the benefits of both worlds combined into the feature set of the KeyTalk CKMS.  

Primary Function 

ACME Clients: The Automated Certificate Management Environment protocol is designed to automate the lifecycle of SSL/TLS certificates, primarily for web servers. Its main role is to streamline certificate issuance, renewal, and revocation by facilitating communication between clients and Certificate Authorities (CAs). This focus helps avoid manual interventions and reduces security risks from expired certificates. ACME clients from third parties are developed, such as Certbot, to provide the ACME protocol functionality. 

KeyTalk: KeyTalk CKMS offers a broader certificate management platform targeting enterprises. It automates not only SSL/TLS but also various other types of certificates, including X.509 for device authentication and S/MIME for email security. KeyTalk manages the entire certificate lifecycle and key pairs across devices, users, and servers with a strong emphasis on enterprise PKI integration. 

Protocol / Standard supported 

ACME Clients: Based on an open protocol standardized in RFC 8555, ACME protocol enjoys widespread adoption among public CAs and supports interoperability across various PKI products. This openness makes it accessible and flexible for diverse environments focused on web server security. 

KeyTalk: KeyTalk CKMS supports, next to its own ACME server, a proprietary automation solution that integrates with standard PKI protocols and supports ACME specifically for server certificate management. It is built to work seamlessly within enterprise PKI setups, including legacy and custom protocols as required by complex environments. 

Supported Certificate Types 

ACME Clients: Focuses exclusively on SSL/TLS certificates used to secure websites and web applications, facilitating encrypted communication between servers and clients. 

KeyTalk native clients: Supports a wide array of certificate types, including SSL/TLS for servers, S/MIME certificates for secure email, device authentication certificates for VPN or WiFi access (802.1X), among others. This versatility supports multi-faceted enterprise security strategies. 

Automation Scope 

ACME Clients: Offers full automation of key certificate lifecycle steps—issuance, renewal, and revocation—specifically for SSL/TLS certificates, without requiring manual certificate signing request (CSR) creation or validation. 

KeyTalk native clients: Extends automation beyond simple issuance and renewal to include certificate deployment and configuration on multiple endpoint devices. It supports silent deployment mechanisms such as Group Policy and integrates with enterprise IAM and MDM solutions to achieve widespread automated management. 

Integration & Compatibility 

ACME Clients: Integrates with the most widely used web servers like Apache, Nginx, and IIS through compatible ACME clients such as Certbot and Posh-ACME. 

KeyTalk: Provides dedicated agents for Windows and Linux. It integrates extensively with enterprise systems including Active Directory, LDAP, Azure AD, RADIUS, MySQL databases, Mobile Device Management platforms like Intune and Workspace ONE, and Hardware Security Modules (HSMs). 

Authentication Methods 

ACME Clients: Uses domain validation techniques—primarily HTTP, DNS, and TLS-ALPN challenges—which verify control over a domain before certificate issuance. Some ACME agents support TPMs for authentication. 

KeyTalk: Goes beyond domain validation by integrating with existing enterprise Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems such as Entra ID, Active Directory, LDAP, and RADIUS for user and device authentication. Additionally, it supports hardware-backed authentication using TPMs and HSMs, enhancing security. So, adding this functionality to its own ACME implementation.  

Key Management 

ACME Clients: Typically generates private keys locally on clients or servers during certificate issuance and does not retrieve or manage private keys centrally. 

KeyTalk: Provides comprehensive key management capabilities including fetching, deploying, and managing both certificates and their private keys. It features key discovery and scraping to align with enterprise security policies and compliance requirements. 

S/MIME and Email Security 

ACME Clients: Does not natively support S/MIME or email security certificates, focusing exclusively on SSL/TLS. 

KeyTalk: Includes robust support for S/MIME certificate issuance and deployment. It automates configuring secure email clients such as Microsoft Outlook, enhancing enterprise email security with minimal user intervention. 

Deployment Options 

ACME Clients: Runs primarily via open-source clients deployed on the user’s infrastructure, with support from numerous CAs worldwide. 

KeyTalk: Offers flexible deployment as a virtual appliance either on-premises or in the cloud, or as a hosted managed service. Agents are deployed directly on endpoints to enable automated certificate lifecycle management. 

Customization & Extensibility 

ACME Clients: Being an open protocol, it is extensible through various client plugins and supported by many CAs, allowing organizations to tailor implementations as needed. 

KeyTalk: Provides advanced customization options through APIs and custom connectors, facilitating deep integration with existing IAM and enterprise systems. Its modular design supports feature tailoring to meet organizational requirements. 

Reporting & Monitoring 

ACME Clients: Typically offers basic logging features, the depth of which depends on the client implementation or CA infrastructure. 

KeyTalk: Includes comprehensive dashboards, detailed reporting, syslog/SIEM integration, automated encrypted backups, and device identification capabilities designed for enterprise monitoring and compliance. 

Use Cases 

ACME Clients: Best suited for automating SSL/TLS certificate management on web servers and related applications, helping reduce manual overhead and mitigate risks from certificate expiry. 

KeyTalk: Supports extensive enterprise use cases including PKI automation, secure email via S/MIME, device authentication for network access (VPN/Wifi), and regulatory compliance through integrated reporting and monitoring. 

Vendor Neutrality 

ACME Clients: Vendor neutral, widely supported by most Certificate Authorities and PKI vendors. 

KeyTalk: Also, vendor neutral, compatible with multiple public and private CAs, including an integrated ACME server, supporting flexible enterprise implementations.  

Licensing / Cost 

ACME Clients: Often accessed via free, open-source clients; certificate costs are set by participating CAs. 

KeyTalk Agent: A commercial product requiring licensing for CKMS, agents, and S/MIME certificate issuance. Available through authorized partners. 

Support 

ACME Clients: Support is community-driven or provided by individual CAs, which may vary in responsiveness and depth. ACME generally relies on the community or CA-provided support channels, which can be sufficient for many web-focused needs but may lack enterprise-grade responsiveness. 

KeyTalk: Offers professional 24/7 multilingual vendor and partner support tailored to complex enterprise environments requiring consistent, high-level assistance. Including full ACME support for endpoint devices.  

Conclusion 

Managing digital certificates effectively is vital to maintaining the security and trustworthiness of your IT infrastructure. The full ACME support within the KeyTalk CKMS combines two different approaches to certificate lifecycle automation—one streamlined and web-focused, the other comprehensive and enterprise-oriented. 

By understanding their features, integrations, and use cases, organizations can profit from a best of both worlds solution by choosing for the KeyTalk CKMS. 

Do you want to know more on how KeyTalk can help your organization? Contact us and we will be glad to discuss the challenges you face and possible solutions we have to offer.

The KeyTalk Team

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) 

Q1: Can ACME manage certificates other than SSL/TLS?
No, ACME primarily supports SSL/TLS certificates for web servers and does not natively handle other types like S/MIME or device certificates. 

Q2: Does KeyTalk support cloud and on-premises deployment?
Yes, the KeyTalk CKMS can be deployed as a virtual appliance on-premises or in the cloud and is available as a hosted managed service. 

Q3: Are ACME clients free to use?
Most ACME clients, like Certbot, are open-source and free. However, obtaining certificates from CAs may incur fees depending on the provider. 

Q4: How does KeyTalk integrate with enterprise identity systems?
KeyTalk integrates with Entra ID, Active Directory, LDAP, RADIUS, and other IAM platforms to authenticate users and devices during certificate issuance and deployment. 

Q5: Which solution is better for email security?
KeyTalk Agent offers strong support for S/MIME certificate issuance and deployment, making it the preferable choice for secure email setups. 

Q6: What risks are associated with manual certificate management in today’s environment?
Manual certificate management increases the chances of human error, such as missed renewals or incorrect deployments, which can lead to expired certificates, service downtime, and security vulnerabilities. Automated solutions help mitigate these risks by ensuring timely renewals and consistent configurations. 

Q7: Is it possible to integrate KeyTalk with existing enterprise security infrastructure?
Yes, KeyTalk is designed to integrate seamlessly with enterprise identity and access management systems such as Entra ID, Active Directory, LDAP, and RADIUS, as well as mobile device management platforms and hardware security modules, supporting a cohesive security ecosystem.