Any business that needs to secure communication over the internet—which is just about every business—needs to use TLS/SSL certificates and cryptography.
Every business owner’s goal is to streamline processes to save time and money. So the question becomes: can businesses automate certificate cryptography?
The answer is not strictly black and white. In this article, we’ll discuss certificate cryptography, its use, and the feasibility of automating the process through digital certificate management with Keyfactor.
What is Cryptography?
Cryptography is the practice of secure communication in the presence of third parties. It is rooted in the ancient art of ciphering, which is the construction of codes that can be deciphered only by those for whom the code was intended.
To ensure that messages are not intercepted and read by unintended recipients, cryptography uses various techniques to disguise the content of a message. Cryptography applications are vast, and the need for secure communication has driven its evolution in an increasingly complex world. With the advent of computers and the Internet, cryptography has become indispensable for protecting information in transit.
What is an SSL Certificate and Why You Need One
When it comes to website security, one of the most important things you can do is install an SSL certificate. This certificate encrypts the connection between your site and visitors’ web browsers, ensuring that no one can intercept or tamper with the data being exchanged.
But what if there was a way to automate creating and renewing SSL certificates? Is it possible?
How SSL Certificates Work
SSL certificates work by using a process called public key cryptography. This process involves two keys: a public key, which is used to encrypt data, and a private key, which is used to decrypt it.
When you install an SSL certificate on your website, you give your visitors’ web browsers a copy of your public key. When they try to access your site, their browser will use that key to encrypt the data being exchanged between their computer and your server. Once the data has been encrypted, only your private key can be used to decrypt it—ensuring that no one else can read it.
How Automation Helps Public Key Cryptography
At its core, public key cryptography is a pretty simple concept. But in practice, it can be quite complex—especially when you factor in things like expired certificates and Certificate Authorities (CAs). That’s where automation comes in.
Can You Automate Certificate Cryptography?
The short answer is yes—sort of.
While you can’t automate the entire process of creating and renewing SSL certificates, you can automate some of the tasks involved.
Certificate Signing Can’t Be Automated
A certificate is a digital document that uses cryptography to bind a public key to an organization or individual. A certificate authority (CA) is a third party that issues certificates. For a certificate to be trusted, it must be signed by a CA.
Signing a certificate with a CA’s private key is known as certificate signing. This process can not be automated because it requires manual intervention by the CA. The CA must verify the identity of the business or individual before issuing a certificate.
Where Automation Can Help
While business owners and IT professionals can not automate the certificate signing process, they can use automation to streamline other aspects of certificate management. This includes automating the request, issuance, and renewal of certificates.
Automating the Request, Issuance, and Renewal of Certificates
Certificate requests, issuance, and renewal can be automated using a certificate management solution. Certificate management solutions are software platforms that help businesses manage their digital certificates and keys. These solutions, like digital certificate management with Keyfactor, typically include automatic certificate discovery, centralized certificate storage, and automation tools.
Automating Insurance Processes
Digital certificates are just one part of the website security equation. To fully protect your site, you’ll also need to make sure an insurance policy covers it.
While you can’t automate the process of buying insurance, you can use automation to help you keep track of your policy and ensure that it’s up to date.
Certificate Renewals
One of the most critical aspects of certificate management is renewing certificates before they expire.
If a certificate expires, it can no longer be used to encrypt data. This can lead to all sorts of problems, including data breaches and loss of website visitors.
The best way to avoid these problems is to automate renewing certificates. Digital certificate management with Keyfactor includes tools that make it easy to automate certificate renewals.
Final Thoughts
Digital certificates are a vital part of website security. They use public key cryptography to encrypt data and ensure that only the intended recipient can read it.
While you can’t automate the entire certificate management process, you can use automation to streamline some of the tasks involved. This includes automating the request, issuance, and renewal of certificates. Automating these tasks can help you save time and ensure your website is always protected.
