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71% of Businesses Aren't Ready for the 90-Day Certificate Rule: Is Yours?

Total Communications
5 min read

The upcoming 90-day limit on digital certificates is set to shake up the way organizations manage their IT infrastructures. Certificates are the cryptographic keys that secure websites, devices, and applications. They validate identities, secure communication, and enable encryption. With this change, businesses—especially those managing large-scale digital ecosystems—face increased pressure to adapt quickly or risk outages, security vulnerabilities, and operational chaos.

 What's at Stake? 

Consider this: 80% of businesses currently lack adequate automation or processes for certificate management. Failure to adapt to this policy shift can lead to:

    •  Operational Disruptions  Expired certificates can break websites, apps, or APIs, causing costly downtime.
    •  Reputation Damage  Customers lose trust when they encounter security warnings or service outages.
    •  Security Vulnerabilities  Lapses in certificate management open the door for cyberattacks like phishing or man-in-the-middle exploits.
    •  Compliance Risks  In regulated industries, certificate mismanagement can lead to steep fines and penalties.

Which Certificates Are Affected? 

The new policy impacts TLS/SSL certificates that secure websites by encrypting data. But the ripple effect goes further, affecting:

      •  Code-Signing Certificates  Verify software integrity and prevent tampering.
      •  Email Security Certificates  Protect email communications from phishing attacks.
      •  IoT Device Certificates  Ensure secure communication between IoT devices and servers.
      •  Client Certificates  Authenticate users to enterprise systems for secure access.

A single missed renewal can disrupt applications, websites, and secure communications, undermining digital trust.

 Who Is at Risk? 

Organizations of all sizes are vulnerable, but especially:

      •  Large Enterprises  Managing thousands of certificates across multiple teams and systems.
      •  E-Commerce Platforms  Where downtime means lost revenue and customer trust.
      •  IoT and Tech Companies  Where secure device communication is critical..
      •  SMBs Without Dedicated IT Teams  Limited resources heighten the risk of outages.
      •  Healthcare, Finance, and Other Regulated Industries  Where compliance violations can be costly.

 How to Automate and Simplify Certificate Management 

To successfully navigate the 90-day limit, businesses must embrace automation, standardization, and proactive planning. Here’s how:

      •  Use Certificate Lifecycle Management Tools 
        Investing in a certificate management platform is critical. These tools centralize tracking, send automated alerts for renewals, and often handle the renewal process itself. This automation ensures no certificate is missed and eliminates manual errors that lead to costly outages.
      •  Implement the ACME Protocol 
        The Automated Certificate Management Environment (ACME) protocol simplifies certificate issuance and renewal. By integrating tools like Let’s Encrypt, you can automate the management of TLS/SSL certificates, reducing the administrative burden and ensuring compliance with the 90-day cycle.
      •  Centralize Visibility and Control 
        Managing certificates across departments or systems can lead to silos and oversights. A centralized dashboard consolidates all certificates, offering IT teams complete visibility into expiration dates and renewal statuses.
      •  Standardize Processes and Policies 
        Create clear processes for certificate issuance, monitoring, and renewal. Define who is responsible, set timelines, and use automated workflows to ensure consistency across the organization. Standardizing certificate management processes also helps avoid operational chaos and fosters better compliance.
      •  Perform Regular Audits 
        Auditing ensures certificates are renewing properly and identifies any unauthorized or rogue certificates that may have been issued. Proactive audits safeguard against vulnerabilities. Follow a certificate expiration audits checklist to stay on track.
      •  Consider Managed Services 
        For businesses lacking internal resources, partnering with a managed service provider can offload the complexity of certificate management. These providers handle renewals, compliance, and monitoring, letting your team focus on strategic priorities.
      •  Train Your Team 
        Even with automation, awareness is key. Educate your teams on the importance of certificates, the implications of the 90-day limit, and how they can support compliance efforts. Training teams on certificate management minimizes risks and boosts efficiency.

 On a Positive Note... 

While the 90-day certificate limit poses challenges, it also provides an opportunity to modernize your approach to digital security. By automating and standardizing certificate management, your business can reduce risk, enhance security, and build a foundation of digital trust.

Certificates are the foundation of digital trust—managing them well ensures your business remains secure, reliable, and ready for the future.