Managing SSL/TLS Certificates in the Enterprise

Communication security has become a major concern for organizations. SSL/TLS certificates are at the heart of it.

What is SSL/TLS?

SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and its successor TLS (Transport Layer Security) are security protocols that establish encrypted communication between a server and a client.

Certificate types

DV (Domain Validation)

Domain validation only. Ideal for internal or test sites.

OV (Organization Validation)

Organization validation. Recommended for professional sites.

EV (Extended Validation)

Extended validation. The most secure, displays the green address bar.

Managing certificates in the enterprise

In an enterprise context, certificate management can quickly become complex. Best practices include:

• Centralize: use an enterprise PKI
• Automate: set up automatic renewal
• Audit: keep an inventory of every certificate in production
• Monitor: alert before expirations

An expired certificate can make your site inaccessible and erode your users' trust.