Key Functions of Certificate Management:
- Lifecycle Management:
- Creation: Generating certificates using a Certificate Authority (CA).
- Deployment: Installing certificates on endpoints like servers or devices.
- Renewal: Replacing expired certificates to maintain security.
- Revocation: Invalidating compromised or outdated certificates.
- Replacement: Updating misconfigured or faulty certificates134.
- Monitoring:
- Automation:
Automated systems streamline certificate discovery, provisioning, renewal, and revocation processes, reducing human error and administrative burden67.
Benefits of Effective Certificate Management:
- Prevents downtime and outages due to expired or faulty certificates.
- Reduces operational costs and human errors through automation.
- Enhances visibility and control over the certificate infrastructure.
- Protects brand reputation by ensuring secure communications126.
Importance in Modern Networks:
With the growing reliance on digital identities for humans and machines, managing certificates at scale has become increasingly challenging. Automated tools are vital for maintaining security without disrupting operations, especially in environments with numerous websites, APIs, IoT devices, or cloud services