Brace Yourselves: SSL/TLS Certificate Lifespans Are Shrinking Fast!

Big news just dropped that's making waves across the cybersecurity space: SSL/TLS certificates are on track to have a maximum lifespan of just 47 days by 2029. That’s right, less than two months. A drastic change to the current 398-day lifespan. Why the change? What does this actually mean for us?

A Quick Look at the Timeline

This isn’t happening overnight, but we are heading in that direction. Here's how certificate validity has been trending over the years:

• Way back when: Multi-year certificates were common.
• Then: We moved to a 2-year limit.
• Now: Most certificates max out at around 1 year.
• Coming by 2029: A max validity of just 47 days (according to Bleeping Computer).

That’s a pretty steep curve toward shorter and shorter certificate lifespans.

Why Shorter Certificates?

So, why the push to trim things down? Here’s what’s driving the change:

• Better Security: If a certificate or its private key gets compromised, a shorter lifespan means it won’t be valid for long. That minimizes damage.
• Faster Adaptation: Shorter certificates make it easier to adopt new encryption standards or respond to new threats quickly.
• Reduced Risk of Misissuance: More frequent renewals mean certificate authorities (CAs) have more chances to validate domains correctly and catch anything suspicious.

In short, it’s all about staying nimble and keeping things secure.

What This Means for You

Whether you’re managing a single website or a fleet of enterprise systems, this change is going to affect you:

• More Frequent Renewals: You’ll need to renew certificates much more often, every few weeks instead of once a year.
• More Admin Work (Unless You Automate): Without automation, managing certs this frequently could become a nightmare.
• Automation Becomes Essential: Tools that can handle certificate requests, renewals, and installations automatically will be your new best friend.
• Potential Cost Bumps: Even if certs don’t cost more per unit, the added workload (if manual) could mean more time, effort, or even third-party service costs.

How to Get Ready

The idea of 47-day certs might sound like a logistical headache, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s how you can get ready:

• Start Automating Now: Whether it’s with built-in tools, scripts, or third-party platforms, now’s the time to build a solid automation workflow.
• Use Centralized Certificate Management: Keep tabs on all your certificates in one place. Visibility is key when things start expiring every few weeks.
• Stay in the Know: Keep up with security best practices, and watch for updates from CAs and browser vendors.
• Consider Using ACME: The ACME protocol (used by Let’s Encrypt, for example) is built for automatic certificate issuance and renewal.

The Future: Shorter, Smarter, Safer

Constantly updating certificates can be a pain, but in the grand scheme of things, this move is a good thing. It means fewer risks, more agility, and a more secure web for everyone.

So—are you ready for 47-day certs?   2029 isn't that far off, we recommend working on this automation now so you can be prepared. If you need help with the automation, feel free to reach out or check out what your automation options are in this blog post.

Source:  

SSL/TLS Certificate Lifespans Reduced to 47 Days by 2029 – Bleeping Computer