Page 18 – Encryption Consulting

AI and Open-Source Tool Integration Causes Concern in the Security Community

The software development world changes with the times. With more sophisticated threat actors worldwide, more sophisticated mechanisms must be utilized in the software development lifecycle. Some of the newer methods being used in Continuous Integration/Continuous Development (CI/CD) Pipelines are AI and open-source tools. These types of tools make the development of software much swifter and easier.

However, it can cause many issues with security teams within an organization. It is much harder for security teams to vet an open-source or AI tool as the open-source tools tend not to be questioned as to whether they came from a trusted source, while AI tools are not at a stage where they can be fully trusted in a software development lifecycle, as AI still makes mistakes.

Though AI and open-source tools help the developers as they automate many processes and make the CI/CD pipeline faster, this introduces a wrinkle in security teams. The concern is that developers are putting speed ahead of security. By prioritizing speed over security, many attack vectors open up to threat actors with these AI and open-source tools.

Additionally, developers want to stay competitive with other developers of rival companies, so not using tools like AI will put them behind the curve, thus putting them at a disadvantage with competitors. Before we dig into the threats these tools introduce, let’s first look at code signing and CI/CD pipelines.

Understanding CI/CD Pipelines and Code Signing

Code signing is a relatively easy process to understand, and it starts with a Public Key Infrastructure or PKI. The signer will request a code signing certificate from the PKI, thus receiving the public-private key pair they can use to sign the code. The key pair involves a public key, which is mathematically linked to the private key. The public key is a key that anyone can see and utilize, while the private key is one that only the certificate holder can utilize. The point of this code signing certificate is that the signing of the code is associated with the specific user who owns that certificate.

The actual code signing process involves hashing the code first. Hashing is a process where code or a document is fed into a hashing algorithm. This algorithm then converts the file into a hash digest, which is unreadable. Similar to encrypting, the hash digest is an unreadable mix of letters and numbers; however, unlike encryption, hashing is one-way. This means the hash digest can never be reversed to get the original text.

This hash is then sent to a Hardware Security Module (HSM) that stores the private key to the code signing certificate, and that private key is used to generate a signature for the code. The signature is then sent back to the client and bundled with the code. This signature ensures that the signer authenticates that the code is free of malware or viruses.

Now that we understand how code signing works, where does it work in the CI/CD pipelines software developers use? A CI/CD pipeline utilizes multiple tools for each phase of the software development lifecycle, which automates and simplifies the software development process. Tools like Jenkins can be incorporated with code signing to create a digital signature as the final step.

Tools like SBOM can be used before code is put into GitHub to check for a specified amount of vulnerability. Virus scanners can also scan code for viruses throughout the process, thus giving end-users faith in their computer software. As you can see, tools like AI or open-source tools could be a great way to speed up your CI/CD pipeline, but using these tools means you are compromising security for speed, which is never recommended.

Threats Faced by Open Source and AI Tools

Open-source or AI tools are great ways to improve and speed up your CI/CD pipeline, but many security concerns lie in these new types of tools. There are issues with the safety of open-source tools. Since the tools are open source, you cannot verify where they are from or who has changed or updated them. This causes issues with security because you want to provide software that an end-user can be confident has been securely created and managed.

Open-source tools can open flaws in a CI/CD pipeline, allowing threat actors to have new attack vectors for infecting victims with malware and viruses. There are many different factors involved in the use of AI tools. AI tools introduce the idea of privacy risks or intellectual property issues, which are problems when handling customer data.

One of the ways you can handle these threats and issues is by balancing your security and speed choices by making sure that you have a good level of speed in your pipeline while not sacrificing security. Making sure you have enough security in place in your CI/CD pipeline while still being able to work quickly and efficiently is very important as well. Finding that balance can be difficult while still staying competitive, but it will help a lot in the long run.

Conclusion

Finding that balance of speed and security is very important and can be a difficult task for a smaller team. Luckily, Encryption Consulting can help. We can help ensure that your compliance needs are met, as well as your code signing needs. Our platform, CodeSign Secure, provides a number of different resources that you will use within your CI/CD pipelines.

Along with code signing, CodeSign Secure allows you to use its SBOM integrations to scan code for vulnerabilities before uploading it to GitHub. You can also integrate with your existing CI/CD pipelines, such as Jenkins, TeamCity, or Azure DevOps. To learn more about CodeSign Secure, reach out to us at www.encryptionconsulting.com.

How Encryption Consulting Helps Organizations Meet NIS 2 Compliance

The NIS 2 Directive is a new EU-wide framework to improve cybersecurity among all member states. It strengthens EU cybersecurity by imposing strict security regulations and implementing incident reporting tasks for member states and companies. Addressing ICT supply chain security and resilience is consistent with the EU’s overall policy for a safe digital environment.

NIS 2, which was published on December 27, 2022, expands the scope of the 2016 NIS Directive to more industries. This means that more companies are expected to follow more challenging cybersecurity guidelines, which include improved encryption and data protection procedures. Most importantly, it specifies basic security and reporting criteria, making compliance straightforward for enterprises in different EU nations.

The directive focuses on protecting supply chains, enhancing the quality of incident reporting, and putting tougher control measures in place. Supply chains are among the basic activities every organization must carry out. They contain all the interlinked entities, positions, processes, data, and other assets used to provide products or services from the providers to the end customers. Enhancing the incident response system includes creating appropriate steps and timelines to alert relevant bodies on cyber security events. This enables effective mitigation of the threats. Strong regulatory guidelines and monitoring of all organizations are necessary for strict control methods.

This ensures that businesses meet cybersecurity standards and manage risks related to their activities and supply chains. To put it simply, NIS 2 seeks to provide a uniform degree of security throughout the EU, just like GDPR unified data privacy legislation. This means that any entity under the principles of NIS 2 must comply with the directive by setting up appropriate measures, including high-level management, monitoring, and control measures to protect its systems. If you are in charge of your company’s cyber security, then you should evaluate where you stand right now and prepare to meet the new, stricter requirements.

NIS2 is for European cybersecurity, exactly as GDPR was for European data protection.

New Organizational Requirements with NIS 2

1. Risk Management

Organizations should take the required steps to reduce cyber risks and consequences to comply with the new directive. Precautions like stronger network security, encryption mechanisms, supply chain security, access control, and incident management should be considered in time.

2. Reporting Obligations

Companies must create proper procedures to report security issues to the appropriate authorities accurately. NIS 2 has clear notification requirements, and major incidents must be notified within 24 hours.

3. Corporate Accountability

Under NIS 2, corporate management monitors authorizes and obtains training on all risks and security measures. Executive duties and responsibilities are greatly influenced by direct accountability such as this. Instead of assigning these responsibilities, it calls on leaders to actively monitor security protocols. Their defenses’ efficiency and dangers should also be well known to them. Executives should now take an active role in recognizing cyber threats and developing strategies to counter them. This moves them from passively monitoring the incidents that are reported to actively participating in risk management.

4. Business Continuity

Organizations must also think about business continuity planning to handle any risks brought on by major security events involving data breaches, supply chain threats, phishing, malware, or other social engineering schemes. Issues including system restoration, protecting essential services, and assembling a crisis management team should all be included in this strategy.

How does NIS 2 affect an organization?

Organizations are greatly affected by the NIS 2 Directive as it expands the scope of cybersecurity regulations to include more areas considered significant to the economy and society. NIS 2 has significantly influenced several industries, including healthcare, where protecting patient data is vital; financial services, which are necessary for maintaining economic stability; and energy, where cybersecurity is necessary for securing infrastructure.

Unlike its predecessor, NIS 2 coverage is increased as it aims to include many smaller and larger enterprises in various industries. Any business in the EU, including “all public and private entities across the internal market that fulfill important functions for the economy and society as a whole,” should employ suitable measures for creating secure infrastructure. Due to this new regulation’s complexity, firms must begin planning immediately to fully understand its scope and its effects on their operations.

NIS 2 differs from its predecessor in a few significant ways. To begin, NIS 2 sets stricter rules for risk management and incident reporting, requiring enterprises to do periodic risk assessments and report large events to authorities within a specific timeframe. This requires extensive incident reporting as well as an analysis of the ways in which incidents affect operations.

Executives may be held personally responsible for non-compliance as NIS 2 places a significant emphasis on management’s personal accountability. This was less clear in the earlier directive. For sensitive data to be adequately protected, organizations must also set up policies on cryptography and encryption.

Organizations must thus begin planning right now in order to properly understand the extent of NIS 2 and how it can affect their operations. While many businesses see compliance as only checking a box to satisfy the bare minimum, NIS 2 should be viewed as a starting point for reaching greater cybersecurity regulations.

This preventive strategy, aiming to increase resilience against cyber crimes, calls for a cultural shift toward compliance by having companies reconsider their cybersecurity policies, invest in new technology, and embed NIS 2 principles into their operational frameworks. Organizations that violate the new rules risk fines of up to €10 million, or 2% of global turnover for critical services, making non-compliance very risky.

This suggests that businesses have to stick to strict risk management protocols, which include conducting periodic risk evaluations and establishing effective security measures appropriate for their operational environments.

NIS 2 – Actions to take now

1. Verify whether NIS 2 applies to your company

Businesses operating in the NIS 2-defined sectors need first to determine whether the regulations cover them, find whether they are regarded as essential or important, and understand their responsibilities regarding NIS 2-related obligations and how these will influence the present cybersecurity compliance framework.

This should take up the first week or two of your project and be done as a top priority.

2. Identify applicable Member State laws for your company

Once you have confirmed NIS 2 applicability, knowing the unique legal necessities in the Member States where you operate is important. This may modify operational choices and compliance plans. Businesses outside the EU that provide services within the EU must decide on a “Representative” based in one of the EU Member States in which they conduct business.

Once NIS 2 applicability has been verified, you should dedicate the second part of your project to this.

3. Determine if your business is subject to any new EU cybersecurity regulations

NIS 2 is part of the EU’s larger cyber regulations, and it is only one of several EU-wide cyber-related rules that in-scope firms must include in their compliance structure. Organizations will have to learn the interrelationships between the future EU data, cybersecurity, and technology regulations and the broader regulatory environment in order to develop and implement detailed compliance plans.

This step can be initiated simultaneously with the previous ones, but it might take longer to assess the interconnected standards, so dedicate the third phase of your project to this.

4. Evaluate your company’s incident response procedures

To ensure that data breaches are managed efficiently, it is crucial to assess your company’s incident response policies. Operational resilience and compliance depend on efficient incident response. Organizations should conduct realistic drills, give defined responsibilities, and confirm communication channels to increase readiness. To keep up with evolving threats and technical developments, they should also often review and update incident response protocols.

This step should come after the first evaluations of regulatory applicability and can be modified over time, committing the project’s fourth phase.

5. Review your company’s cybersecurity risk mitigation procedures

Review and update cybersecurity risk mitigation procedures frequently to stay ahead of evolving threats and vulnerabilities. Examine any weaknesses in the current risk management system and put proper measures in place to protect private information. Develop a culture of awareness and attentiveness among team members to increase cybersecurity resilience and lower risks.

Meeting NIS 2 Compliance with Encryption Consulting

As we go over the minimal steps you must do to comply with the NIS 2 complaint, let’s talk about how encryption consulting may assist you in meeting your compliance needs. We provide encryption assessments as part of our advisory services. With this service, we can help you become NIS 2 compliant. The evaluation brings up security flaws that require improvement and suggests measures to avoid them. We identify and understand your company’s present state of data security, including its abilities, challenges, and level of maturity.

We review your current needs matrix, data security controls, policy and procedure documentation, industry standards, and legal requirements. We aim to fully understand the present scenario, including the use cases, issues, and sensitive data flow. We study current data encryption capabilities and pinpoint areas in need of development. We provide an implementation plan to address the identified control gaps and design use cases to facilitate choosing and assessing potential encryption and other data protection solutions.

Although NIS 2 has several requirements, not all businesses and organizations must adhere to them. Different rules apply depending on the company’s operations and size. As a result, each relevant entity must follow a few fundamental rules.

1. Risk assessments and security policies for information systems

Our team has expertise in conducting comprehensive risk assessments that identify various forms of potential risks to your business operations. This assessment includes an analysis of the current security posture to identify vulnerabilities and threats, as well as the development of risk criteria to prioritize potential issues.

Major vulnerabilities identified, risk ratings for various assets, and a prioritized risk mitigation plan are all quantifiable deliverables of such assessments. These results enable firms to make better decisions on the resource allocation and strategies for risk management.

After risk assessment, we help organizations develop robust security policies that meet legal requirements and the best practices of the industry. The security policy framework involves data protection, incident response, access control, and compliance requirements. By enforcing such policies, organizations may set specific standards for protecting confidential data and handling security issues.

These policies are therefore, measurable, leading to improved regulatory compliance, shortening the incident response time, and raising general security awareness amongst personnel. This systematic way of working not only aids in enhancing the organization’s security posture but also brings forward a security-conscious culture at all levels.

2. A plan for handling security incidents

Our team can provide you with a clear incident response strategy, which is a critical necessity in the event of a security breach. This plan usually includes developing proper incident response processes, ways of communication, and escalation channels. The strategy also includes mechanisms for assessing incidents like ransomware attacks, phishing attacks, and data breaches after they occur in order to identify lessons learned and enhance future responses. By being ready for these situations, your company can react more skillfully and limit possible harm.

3. A plan for managing business operations during and after a security incident. This means that backups must be up to date. A plan must also be made to ensure access to IT systems and their operating functions during and after a security incident.

We can greatly improve your organization’s capacity to manage operations during and following a security event by offering experience, resources, and structured strategies. We can assist you in keeping your backups up to date by designing thorough backup plans and testing backups on a timely basis. Testing backups on a regular basis reduces downtime and interruption by ensuring that data can be restored precisely and promptly when necessary.

A strong continuity strategy must also be in place to ensure access to IT systems and their operational capabilities during and after a security event. We take an approach to confirm the dependability and integrity of your backups. We can assist you in establishing RBAC controls and IAM rules to guarantee that only authorized individuals have access to this private system data.

4. Security around supply chains and the relationship between the company and direct suppliers. Companies must choose security measures that fit the vulnerabilities of each direct supplier. Companies must then assess the overall security level of all suppliers.

Our team of professionals can assist your company in establishing supply chain security. We can assist you in understanding the vulnerabilities that your direct suppliers might expose you to and develop strategies to address such concerns. Risks associated with the supply chain include:

Data breaches, which can result from unauthorized access to private information shared with suppliers.
Quality control problems, which can cause product recalls or harm to your brand’s reputation.
Regulatory compliance risks, which can expose your company to fines if suppliers violate industry standards.

After integrating the items from various vendors into the system, our professionals can assess your company’s overall security posture.

5. Policies and procedures for evaluating the effectiveness of security measures.

Our specialists will be able to help your company develop and implement effective policies and procedures, as well as assess the efficiency of security measures. To maintain security and reduce the risk in an enterprise, there should be frequent reviews of the effectiveness of the security measures. Based on the size of the organization, complexity, and risk profile, we recommend quarterly or at least semiannual evaluations. We can make use of several assessment approaches, including the following in properly evaluating your security:

Vulnerability assessments: Thorough reviews of your IT system to find and rank any weak points that hackers could exploit.
Penetration Testing: A simulated cyber-attack by an ethical hacker is performed to find weaknesses that might be used before an attacker does.

We can also do a gap analysis of your existing rules against industry best practices and compliance standards and recommend solutions wherever required. A systematic review process can help your business verify that properly implemented policies and procedures help to reduce risks and adapt to the changing threat landscape.

6. Cybersecurity training and practice for basic computer hygiene

Our team also offers cybersecurity training, which is designed to provide the basic computer hygiene practices essential for safeguarding your organization. The training can be beneficial for teaching employees about securely accessing systems, changing unsafe password storage habits, and minimizing incidents of unauthorized use of software.

Our training focuses on the most pertinent threats to your organization, particularly phishing attacks and social engineering tactics. Most phishing attacks involve some kind of fraudulent email or message that can trick employees into giving away sensitive information by clicking on malicious links. Our training can help your employees develop the skills needed to detect such threats, identify the clear signs of phishing attempts, and respond correctly.

Similarly, social engineering techniques use human nature to deceive people into revealing confidential information. By training employees regarding these tactics, we can make them more aware and less susceptible to being manipulated, thus improving the security posture of your business as a whole.

Our training equips individuals with knowledge about various dangers and provides essential information for management to oversee the security practices of employees, services, or organizations. We can also offer a customizable checklist for regular maintenance, such as logging out of all accounts, shutting devices as needed, clearing your session and cookies, or any other measures that best suit your organizational needs. A cybersecurity-aware culture and basic hygiene practices within your organization will go a long way in reducing the risk of falling prey to phishing and social engineering attacks.

7. Security procedures for employees with access to sensitive or important data, including policies for data access. The company must also have an overview of all relevant assets and ensure that they are properly utilized and handled.

Our representatives can help your company develop detailed rules of data access that define who has access to sensitive information and when, ensure proper use and management of all sensitive information, and foster a culture of transparency. We can help you classify your data according to sensitivity levels to set the right access permissions. We advise the below categorization of various data types:

Public Data: Public data is information that may be freely shared with the general public without danger. Examples include marketing materials and press releases.
Internal Data: Information that should only be used internally and that might somewhat harm the company if shared. Examples include internal memos and employee handbooks.
Confidential Data: This refers to the information that must be kept private, as disclosure could have severe damaging impacts. It includes customer information, financial data, and proprietary information.
Restricted Data: This is sensitive information. If compromised, it can lead to serious consequences against the organization, including possible legal penalties and damage to its reputation. Examples include trade secrets and PII.

By classifying data in this way, the organization will be able to tell what controls and what security measures should be applied to each level. We can also assist in establishing an approval process to grant access to sensitive data, ensuring that only authorized personnel can view or handle it. We can also help organizations set up a proper approval process for accessing the data.

Besides that, periodically reviewing logs regarding data access is recommended. This practice helps monitor who accesses sensitive data, when, and for what purpose, allowing for the identification of any unauthorized access attempts or anomalies.

8. Policies and procedures for the use of cryptography and, when relevant, encryption.

Our team is prepared to help businesses identify the vital information that requires security. By doing this, we can assist businesses in creating efficient rules and processes for the use of cryptography and encryption. We take the time to understand each company’s unique needs, risks, and industry standards, allowing us to create customized policies that outline approved encryption methods, key management practices, and safe data transfer protocols.

Having a strong key management policy is vital for keeping encrypted data secure, and we’re committed to helping businesses achieve that. Proper key management involves the generation, distribution, storage, rotation, and destruction of encryption keys, which are vital for maintaining the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive information. Without effective key management, even the strongest encryption can be rendered useless if keys are compromised or mishandled.

We can thoroughly review your existing policies and identify gaps or areas of improvement in cryptographic practices, ensuring that the policies cover all aspects of data security, from encryption to access control and monitoring. Cryptography and cybersecurity standards evolve quickly. To ensure the effectiveness of your encryption practices, it is crucial to adopt recognized encryption standards.

Some of the commonly used standards are RSA, an asymmetric encryption algorithm that uses a pair of keys—a public key for encryption and a private key for decryption—and AES, a symmetric encryption algorithm that is widely used across various applications, offers a high level of security, is advised for protecting classified information, and is widely adopted in commercial applications. It is commonly used for secure data transmission, digital signatures, and key exchange.

We can offer ongoing support to review and update policies as new threats, technologies, and regulations emerge, keeping businesses current and protected.

9. The use of multifactor authentication, continuous authentication solutions, voice, video, and text encryption, and encrypted internal emergency communication when appropriate

We can help your company select the best multifactor authentication techniques, including token-based, app-based, and biometric solutions. To provide additional protection, we can also help integrate these techniques into existing applications and systems. An enhanced security strategy that goes beyond conventional one-time verification techniques is continuous authentication.

Continuous authentication keeps an eye on and confirms a user’s identity throughout their entire engagement with a system instead of just doing so at the start of a session. This continuous assessment helps guarantee that the individual gaining access to private data or systems is still the authorized user.

We can help businesses select and deploy these solutions, which rely on behavioral biometrics, location tracking, and real-time risk assessments. Organizations can quickly identify and respond to potential security threats by continuously verifying user identity, minimizing the need for frequent re-authentication. We can also offer our expertise in selecting secure, compliant encryption solutions for voice calls, video conferences, and text messages. We can also set up encrypted emergency channels, ensuring rapid, secure communication during crises.

10. Security around the procurement of systems and the development and operation of systems. This means having policies for handling and reporting vulnerabilities.

Our team can assist in creating a structured Vulnerability Disclosure Policy (VDP) that outlines how vulnerabilities should be reported, assessed, and mitigated. This involves establishing the parameters of what is considered a vulnerability, creating transparent reporting procedures, and making sure that security researchers and ethical hackers are free to disclose findings without worrying about potential legal ramifications.

We assist companies in keeping a proactive approach to security by offering recommendations for assessing the seriousness of vulnerabilities and setting priorities for remedial efforts. Additionally, we can facilitate training and awareness programs covering best practices for identifying potential vulnerabilities during the procurement process and secure coding practices during development.

Secure coding practices include input validation, which ensures that all user inputs are validated and sanitized to prevent injection attacks; authentication and strict access control are implemented to protect sensitive data and resources; and sensitive information is avoided in error messages. In addition to secure coding practices, utilizing vulnerability scanning tools during development is crucial for identifying and mitigating security risks.

Some of these tools are Static Application Security Testing (SAST) Tools to source code for vulnerabilities without executing the program. Examples include SonarQube, Checkmarx, Fortify, and Dynamic Application Security Testing (DAST) Tools, which test run applications for vulnerabilities by simulating attacks. Examples include OWASP ZAP, Burp Suite, Acunetix, and Software Composition Analysis (SCA) Tools, which identify vulnerabilities in third-party libraries and dependencies. Examples include Snyk, Black Duck, and WhiteSource.

Conclusion

Enterprises need to upgrade their security procedures and, at the same time, be proactive in securing sensitive data. By establishing protocols for data access, identifying and fixing vulnerabilities, and reacting to any incidents, businesses may improve the security of their data. It can be beneficial to create these frameworks and include regulatory compliance while cultivating a security-conscious culture among staff members by collaborating with outside experts.

In addition, implementing technology, such as encryption for communications, multifactor authentication, and continuous authentication, can dramatically improve an organization’s chances of defeating a cyber-attack. Successful risk management requires cybersecurity training and a robust process for procurement and system development.

In the end, these procedures not only safeguard important data but also foster trust among clients and associates. As the threat environment evolves, enterprises must remain updated on cybersecurity trends to continuously meet the evolving regulatory standards to prosper in today’s digital world.

We can help you with your mission to adhere to this compliance. For assistance, please reach out to us at [email protected]

A success story of how we transformed a leading US healthcare organization’s security with our PKI assessment

Company Overview

We just completed one of the most extensive public key infrastructure assessment projects with the leading Minnesota-based healthcare organization, a leader in its field, serves as a home to more than 7000 passionate professionals, dedicated to setting new standards for pharmacies and develop treatments, aspiring to find disease cures. Decades have passed, and this organization became an exemplary name, simplifying complexities and delivering exceptional home-based pharmacy services platform to millions across nations. The bigger it grew, the more challenges came along, especially in its Public Key Infrastructure management.

Challenges

Over the years, their PKI had evolved without a structured approach to implementing Certificate Authorities (CA) and updating certificate revocation lists. This ad-hoc process became less of a security system and more of a patchwork, functional but not scalable.

Manual managing the lifecycle processes, such as issuance, renewal, and revocation of certificates of thousands of certificates was difficult for the organizations, which delayed operations and increased the risk of service outages caused by the expired certificates lingering in the system. It became a classic case of “what got you here won’t get you in the future,” and they realized it was time for a change.

Our security architect put it appropriately, “The organization’s PKI environment had evolved to meet immediate security requirements, but without a compliance-focused strategy or centralized oversight, it left critical gaps that could lead to costly penalties.” These gaps left certificate-related risks untracked.

Additionally, there were no formal policies like Certificate Policy (CP) or Certificate Practice Statement (CPS) documents to guide PKI operations. Root CA and Issuing CA’s private keys were stored locally in software-based solutions lacking strong access controls.

In a hybrid environment, consistency is hard to achieve. With operations across both on-premises and cloud-based platforms, the organization grappled with the challenges of managing constant cryptographic controls and policy enforcement with varying security requirements.

One of the key stakeholders shared, “Every time we thought we had control of the security, a new blind spot would appear.” The lack of visibility and operational challenges, like the absence of a regular backup process for certificate authority databases, exposed them to data loss and certificate discovery never took place due to which wildcard and self-signed certificates were lying in their environment unnoticed increasing the chances of certificate outages.

Without a maintained certificate inventory or proper certificate discovery process, wildcards and self-signed certificates would remain hidden in the environment. Such certificates created blind spots resulted in unauthorized access, lack of accountability, and potential exploitation of unused certificates.

The PKI environment also lacked the agility to adapt quickly to future demands, as it was built with a dependency on a single CA or a rigid CA strategy, which ultimately locked the organization with one vendor, making it difficult to respond to emerging security trends, regulatory changes or updates in cryptographic standards, such as transitioning from TLS 1.2 protocol to TLS 1.3 protocol.

Solution

After thoroughly evaluating various PKI assessment platforms, the organization chose our structured and phased approach as the ideal solution to addressing their pressing challenges, recognizing our proven track record in delivering tailored, efficient, and scalable security and compliance services.

We evaluated the PKI infrastructure’s ability to support integrations with multiple CAs. This flexibility would enable the organization to meet diverse use cases, from internal certificates to external compliance requirements, without being tied to a single vendor.

With the project scope clearly defined, we began by reviewing their existing policies and standards, including data classification, certificate, and key management policies. We gained a clear understanding of their operational challenges and security requirements, which helped us to establish the use cases, including:

Securing client and server communication
Enabling least privilege access control principles
Centralized and automated certificate and key management
Implementing strong and compliant cryptographic controls and standards

We conducted workshops with identified stakeholders to assess their existing PKI environment. This included providing detailed gap analysis to assess their “as-is” PKI versus “to-be” PKI state.

The analysis identified areas of improvement in certificate lifecycle management process, key management practices, certificate policy, and certificate practice documentation.

This evaluation was conducted using a custom PKI framework, designed in alignment with industry best practices and compliance standards, such as NIST 2.0 and FIPS 140-2/3.

To identify gaps and areas of improvement it served as a reference model to build a strategic remediation roadmap for a future-ready PKI environment.

After conducting the assessment, we built a tailored strategy prioritizing adherence to regulatory standards, such as NIST SP 1800-16, ensuring key generation (e.g., using 2048 or above key bit size), and implementing principles of least privilege access controls to prevent unauthorized access.

Our PKI assessment approach focused on automating certificate and key lifecycle management processes, reduced manual workload, and minimizing the risk of certificate outages. For example, automated certificate expiration alerts help to notify stakeholders in real-time, ensuring proactive and automated renewals.

Additionally, we recommended an automated backup process for CA databases to ensure data recovery that provided enhanced visibility. We standardized PKI policies for consistent certificate management with the goal to phase out risky self-signed and unmanaged wildcard certificates.

Our gap analysis also emphasized the importance of centralizing certificate inventory to track and monitor certificates across on-premises and cloud environments. Our senior manager’s aim was to achieve a “single pane of glass” view, which would enable tracking and monitoring of certificate status, ownership, and dependencies, addressing blind spots and improving accountability.

Impact

Throughout the project, we prioritized identifying the root cause of their security challenges and bridging the gap between their current PKI environment and long-term security goals. Our approach focused on providing a strategy and detailed remediation plan or recommendations to automate CLM processes and incorporate the best practices in day to day operations.

The organization achieved significant improvement in strengthening security posture by automating certificate lifecycle process from issuance to renewal and key management processes, which minimized the reliance on manual interventions. One notable result was their ability to actively manage certificate renewals to prevent service disruptions caused by expired certificates.

The organization achieved continuous operations without service disruptions by automated alerts and certificate renewal process.

Additionally, root and issuing CA’s private keys were securely stored and managed by utilizing the Hardware Security Module (HSM). Strong access controls were ensured, with clearly defined morals and responsibilities within the organization to ensure trust in certificate operations.

As a result of our assessment the organization adopted a password-less approach to strengthen security and simplify user authentication. Certificates were deployed across all endpoints, including laptops, mobile phones, internal web servers, and IoT devices.

The organization established standardized and centralized processes for managing its PKI. This included managing how certificate signing requests were generated, approvals were handled, and certificates were tracked and monitored in the certificate inventory.

The organization focused on creating a centralized certificate management system which helps the team to ensure which certificates are active, who owns them, and which one needs immediate attention.

By keeping an eye on upcoming expirations, the organization avoids unexpected issues like service disruptions.

Conclusion

Where digital trust is the foundation of every organization, managing PKI effectively is not just about keeping things running smoothly but a strategic imperative. Our comprehensive PKI assessment enabled the healthcare to transition from a fragmented PKI to a secure and scalable PKI.

The organization’s transition to standardized PKI environment has enhanced visibility in their PKI, helping them address upcoming certificate expirations and avoid costly outages. This approach shows how a simple, well-planned systems can make a big difference, ensuring trust and security for years to come.

Going forward, the organization plans to expand these capabilities by automating certificate deployment and management, integrating PKI with existing identity and access management system, and leveraging PKI for emerging use cases, such as IoT device security.

A Success Story of How We Helped A Leading Healthcare Organization With FIPS 140-2 Compliance Assessment

case study on FIPS 140-2 Compliance Assessment

Company Overview

We worked with one of the top healthcare providers based out of the USA that offers a wide portfolio of health insurance and services to people both nationally and internationally. They manage a global database of thousands of clients and their confidential information. Their network consisted of multiple locations and over 20,000 + employees, maintaining a continuous communication channel with various hospitals and clinics. Their goal was to achieve FIPS 140-2 compliance, and they were seeking support in a thorough assessment across their wide infrastructure that would guide them to take all the necessary steps to meet the compliance.

Challenges 

While working with data, especially in the healthcare sector, protecting the PII (Personally Identifiable Information) and PHI (Protected Health Information) data concerning your patient is a necessity. The core objective of the organization was to get a comprehensive gap assessment of the existing environment, including a thorough review of their current cryptographic standards. They also wanted to get a compliance attestation certificate by thoroughly evaluating the company’s application showcasing their commitment to safeguarding sensitive information.

Once we acquired the relevant information, we performed an in-depth gap analysis by examining their cryptographic controls and standards and evaluating all the crucial aspects of security requirements against the FIPS 140-2 standard. We created a thorough report of the gap analysis we performed. In the report, we pointed out the security gaps that did not meet the FIPS 140-2 standard. We also identified the potential risks associated with the key management process. As we started the assessment, we uncovered a few critical areas that needed attention:

Our client had some key databases that stored sensitive data where no encryption was applied. This included multiple Oracle and SQL Server databases, which stored sensitive information without any layer of encryption to protect them.  
They used a single encryption key to encrypt data across several applications and services, including backup databases that created serious security risks. If an attacker broke into one application, they could potentially compromise the encryption key and get access to all other systems using the same key. 
There was a lack of role-based access control (RBAC) or Identity-based access (IAM) control. These policies let users access sensitive data based on their roles. The company’s setup gave more access than needed. This meant it was easier to access sensitive keys and information than it should have been. 
The cryptographic policies and standards in place weren’t enough as they did not properly align with the FIPS 140-2 security requirements. The encryption algorithms mentioned were outdated, the cipher suites were weak, and the sizes for encryption keys weren’t big enough to withstand modern cryptographic attacks. This made cryptographic modules vulnerable to potential breaches.
They had poor key management practices that lacked adequate access control, multiple uses of a single key across several services and applications, and no proper monitoring of the key usage. These poor key management practices increased the risks of the key being exposed through accidental sharing, misconfiguration, or lack of oversight.

The Solution

Our gap analysis provided a thorough breakdown by pointing out which FIPS security level’s requirements were met by the organization. The report also highlighted the areas that needed improvements to meet the necessary compliance requirements. The gap analysis was done by a detailed study of various application’s data flow diagrams, studying how the data flew from the ingress point to the egress point. We understood how data was handled within the application, whether at rest or in transit.

All the discoveries we made were presented with specific suggestions for improvement. This ensured the organization had a clear path to work on to mitigate the current security gaps. From all our suggestions and recommendations, we supported the healthcare giant to align all its organizational practices with FIPS 140-2 security regulations. This meant updating algorithms, adopting the best practices for key lifecycle management, and generating unique keys for all applications. These are some of the many ways we supported the organization:

We modified the cryptographic policies and standards that needed alignment with the FIPS 140-2 standard. We described the specifications for cryptographic modules and updated the outdated algorithms. It ensured that any further applications that would be developed in the future adopted these policies designed to meet the industry best practices. 
We recommended enabling robust encryption techniques that complied with FIPS 140-2 for both data-at-rest (AES 256/RSA 2048 for encryption) and data-in-transit (TLS 1.2 and above). This safeguarded the sensitive information at every touchpoint. 
Next, we recommended generating unique encryption keys for each application and the resources that go with it. The process allows the system to successfully isolate by giving each program and component a distinct key. This limits potential exposure and prevents an attacker from endangering the entire application even if they manage to get in that helps to enhance the cryptographic security.  
To cover the security requirement of roles, services, and authentication, we suggested using the least privileged access control approach for their key management operations via RBAC and IAM for both on-premises and in the cloud, enabling only authorized people to access specific data and important functions. This also meant logically separating required and optional roles. 
We advised adopting strong authentication mechanisms such as Multi-Factor Authentication to gain access to cryptographic systems and key management interfaces. This helped to add security measures protecting the organization from unauthorized access. 
We recommended establishing a secure key lifecycle management process, from securely generating (random number generators), distributing, rotating (setting up key validity), and revoking the key to storing encryption keys at Secure cryptographic modules like HSMs and key vaults and monitoring the key usage.
For the design assurance of each application in scope, we suggested following a structured process to ensure compliance, which updated cryptographic standards and policy documents. This included ensuring that all module components meet the necessary standards. This was done by maintaining detailed documentation outlining the cryptographic module’s design, implementation, and operational environment.

The Impact

We were able to successfully help our client in achieving FIPS 140-2 compliance. Our assessment and support created a strong foundation for various long-term benefits and strategic goals for the healthcare organization. This assessment has helped the organization to improve its overall security posture and protect sensitive patient information more effectively. The security measures established through this compliance will enable growth and innovation. The organization can now focus on delivering high-quality care while staying secure and compliant.

The organization now uses standardized encryption and security measures, earning them the FIPS certification. This lowers the risk of expensive data breaches and the fines that come with them.  
Moreover, it opened new opportunities for strategic partnerships with technology suppliers and other healthcare providers as the organization now complies with FIPS standards. 
This initiative has added the best security practices to the organization’s daily operations, reducing the risk of future non-compliance by ensuring continued attention to detail and adherence to regulatory rules.

Conclusion

We built a thorough understanding of our client’s current cryptographic capabilities and limitations to provide specific recommendations to address security gaps. We carefully reviewed the client’s cryptographic policies, processes, and standards and successfully conducted workshops to understand the application’s data flow diagrams, components, and the process of data stored at rest and transferred from one point to another, which in turn helped us to successfully support the organization to meet all the necessary FIPS 140-2 compliance requirements.

Our assessment and strategy, not only helped the organization to meet the compliance requirements, it also equipped the organization to better manage the emerging cyber threats and establish proper security measures which will help them to stay secure and compliant for years to come.

TLS Certificate validity reduced to 45 days?

At the moment, the TLS/SSL certificate lifespan is a maximum of 398 days. Reducing the lifespan of digital certificates will enhance the overall security posture. However, it will also bring operational challenges, especially for organizations dealing with a high number of certificates daily. Recently, Apple proposed to the CA Browser forum to reduce the validity of TLS certificates to 45 days starting in 2027. Before this, Google announced it would reduce the certificate validity to 90 days.

All these developments indicate a major shift in how organizations will manage digital certificates in the future. This could be a good opportunity to explore new challenges and develop strategies organizations might need to adapt to navigate this new terrain.

Now, let’s talk about the Timeline to prepare for lifespan reduction:

Apple has clearly outlined a roadmap for moving toward shorter validity periods; it won’t cut the time all at once to 45-day lifespans but will do so in stages. By doing this, the changeover becomes more gradual.

The important factor that can bring changes in this transition is a role that can be played by Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), or to be more precise, Domain Control Validation (DCV). This involves the Certificate Authority’s verification of the requestor’s domain. It’s an essential condition to issue or deploy any SSL/TLS certificate. While reusing DCV will permit bypassing of re-validation in certain conditions, changes in the reuse period will take place and will surely affect businesses adapting to shorter certificate lifespans.

The following are key milestones that enterprises should note during preparation concerning the probable 45-day lifespan of a certificate:

September 15, 2025: The lifetime of certificates will be cut to 200 days in case Apple’s proposal gets adopted, with an early renewal period of 20 days. The reuse period for DCV will also be extended to 200 days.

September 16, 2026: Certificate validity will be shortened to 100 days after using 200-day lifetimes for one year, with an allowance of up to an additional 10 days for early renewal. The period for reuse of a DCV will be shortened to 100 days.

Mid-to-late September 2027: Certificates will have the proposed 45-day lifetime in this key milestone of Apple’s plan; the DCV reuse period will be shortened to 10 days. These changes mark the importance of being informed and adapting to the evolving practices of certificate management. Enterprises should continue to be vigilant and prepare for these incremental yet impactful updates.

Implications of Apple’s 45-day proposal

Apple’s proposal for a 45-day certificate validity has significant implications for cybersecurity and operational processes in every industry.

1. Strengthened Security

Shorter validity period usage minimizes the exposure of compromised certificates to attackers since it reduces the timeframe wherein already compromised private keys can be used maliciously. If any of the certificates get compromised, its reduced life span reduces the potential for damage.

Frequent renewals encourage better adherence to security best practices that keep organizations agile and current in a rapidly changing threat landscape.

Shorter lifetimes reduce the number of vulnerabilities introduced over time due to cryptographic weakening and/or improper handling of revocation.

2. Greater Operational Challenges

Certificates that last 45 days will greatly increase the renewal volume, which can be very unmanageable by an IT team using manual processes.

With few exceptions, it is often hard for smaller organizations to keep pace, with the risk of service interruption or failure in compliance.

Since frequent renewals would place stress on organizations for smooth and error-free processing, this will be possible only with automation by utilizing certificate management solutions.

3. Strategic Adjustments for Businesses

Organizations have to review their current certificate management processes and create a shift towards automation for the continuity of operations with security compliance.

Increased investment in tools and infrastructure to support automated management will strain budgets but may pay off through longer-term operational efficiencies.

The increased issuance of certificates demands more robust monitoring systems to ensure that service lapses, expirations, or misconfigurations do not take down the services.

Security Challenges with Shorter Certificate Lifespan

Security challenges include handling exisiting legacy systems, automating certificate management processes, and managing resource constraints, which become increasingly critical as certificate validity periods shrink.

1. Legacy Systems and Non-Automated Environments

Manual renewal strategies at organizations, which were somewhat manageable at a 398-day lifetime, will be untenable as the validity period shrinks. Manual renewals generally lead to expired certificates or misconfigurations, leading to service disruptions or security vulnerabilities. With Legacy systems, you see some unique challenges:

Incompatibility with Automation: Legacy systems lack support for tools such as ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment).
Scalability Issues: Most of these legacy infrastructures are incapable of scaling up. Therefore, managing the increased volume of certificates required due to shorter lifespans is not feasible.

2. Burden to Small Businesses and Resource-Constrained Organizations

Smaller organizations, which often have limited IT resources, stand to be disproportionately affected by the transition to shorter lifespans for certificates. Frequent renewals without automated systems increase the chances of a certificate expiring and thus going into downtime, which may be insecure. The small business may not have the technical manpower or the budget to implement automation solutions and thus could be at risk operationally as well as in terms of security.

To overcome these challenges, organizations must prioritize adapting automation protocols like ACME to reduce manual workloads and minimize human error. Organizations should also plan to decommission legacy systems and invest in newer infrastructure for compatibility and scalability.

Prepare now for a shorter Certificate Lifespan with Encryption Consulting

Encryption Consulting’s advisory services will help you strategize with immediate actions and long-term planning, and our certificate lifecycle management solution called CertSecure Manager will help you automate the complete certificate lifecycle management process. Let’s get to the details:

Although the key dates highlighted above seem distant, transitioning to an automated solution takes time and planning.

Short-term planning

Automation is no longer an option; with new security requirements, it’s a need for every organization. We can help you prepare for the following:

Evaluate Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) Solutions: Assess and select your CLM solution, such as CertSecure Manager, that aligns with your organization’s broader security goals to reduce manual tasks and improve efficiency.
Audit Existing Systems: If automation is already implemented, conduct a thorough audit to ensure the infrastructure can handle the increased renewal demands associated with shorter validity periods.
Adjust Workflows: Begin transitioning manual processes to automated ones, prioritizing scalability and minimizing human error.

Long-term planning

Beyond immediate adjustments, a strategic approach to certificate management is critical for sustained success:

Focus on Scalability and Agility: Implement solutions that can adapt to evolving certificate standards and an expanding digital environment.
Maximize ROI on Automation: Develop a roadmap for long-term usage of automated tools, ensuring the investment delivers enhanced efficiency and security.
Future-Proof Systems: Design infrastructure with flexibility in mind, allowing for seamless adaptation to further industry changes or technological advancements.

EC’s Certificate Lifecycle Management Solution – CertSecure Manager

CertSecure Manager is a true vendor-neutral solution that automates the entire SSL/TLS certificate lifecycle from issuance and discovery to deployment and one-click renewal. It can easily handle many SSL/TLS certificates; with CertSecure Manger’s centralized dashboard, you gain real-time visibility into all your certificates, eliminating manual workloads and minimizing the risk of unexpected expirations.

Prepare for the future of certificate lifecycle management today by experiencing our certificate lifecycle management solution: CertSecure Manager. Request a demo today.

How Encryption Consulting aided a Tech Firm with CodeSign Secure in their growth

Company Overview

With its innovative software for programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and automation solutions, this company is one of the market’s best providers of industrial automation solutions. The company has established quite an impressive regional presence offering solutions for automating processes even in the most complicated industrial settings.

As a leading technology company, the following priorities- software authenticity, validation, and data integrity became central to its operations. The organization encountered challenges with implementing code signing within its Azure DevOps pipeline, which caused delays and negatively affected the ability to sustain development efficiency. This organization also faced the challenge of long application loading time with AppLocker in place.

Challenges

This organization encountered numerous challenges while attempting to optimize processes and maintain strong security across the tech industry. This company faced challenges in a number of areas, ranging from controlling intricate operations to dealing with the shortcomings of its CI/CD pipeline.

Code Signing in CI/CD Pipeline: Code signing employs certificates and encryption to prove the code’s authenticity and that no one has altered it, and not having this kind of integration slowed down their processes due to manual checks and hampered their operational agility. They struggled with inefficient software deployment due to the lack of code signing in their CI/CD pipeline.
Security Vulnerabilities: The absence of code signing exposed the organization to significant cyber threats, including code tampering and malicious code injection. These vulnerabilities not only compromised user applications but also posed risks to the entire software infrastructure, severely impacting the organization’s security posture.
Delayed Application Launch Time with AppLocker: The organization’s delayed application launch times frustrated their customers, especially during critical tasks. This dissatisfaction not only impacted user experience but also disrupted workflows, reduced overall productivity, and negatively affected the whole organization.
Compliance Breach: The organization faced major compliance challenges, undermining essential security and regulatory requirements. This led to the installation of unauthenticated or harmful software in their systems. The integrity and authenticity of the softwares deployed by them were questioned. This non-compliance with frameworks like HIPAA, GDPR, and other standards jeopardized the organization’s data security, and it became essential to secure data safeguards.

Solution

The organization received assistance from Encryption Consulting in developing an industry-compliant yet best-practice solution to their problem. Focusing on their core problems, namely security threats, regulatory constraints, and efficiency issues, we successfully integrated our high-end code signing solution, CodeSign Secure, into their coding infrastructure quickly.

Seamless integration of CodeSign Secure with their Azure DevOps pipeline made the entire process of code signing quite quick and easy. During the CI/CD process, it also allowed them to automate signing of files, including file formats such as PDF, XML, MS Authenticode, and Java. Now, every time the code is pushed through their pipeline, CodeSign Secure applies a digital signature and ensures the authenticity and integrity of their code before deployment, all without manual intervention.
An HSM was also provided to the organization, which guaranteed secure storage and access to the private keys associated with their code signing certificates. This type of access control was implemented so that no one can access their sensitive keys without permission. In this manner, the organization could guard against the possible leakage or breach of the private keys used for signing their code by introducing a middle layer into the process.
The organization was equipped with Comprehensive Signed Audit Trails using CodeSign Secure in order to promote transparency and assurance in the utilization of code signing. All transactions and signing operations were accurately recorded in CodeSign Secure’s logs, allowing for audit-proof and tamper-free documentation.
Additionally, we cut down their time to open applications with AppLocker from 2 minutes and 30 seconds to 30 seconds only, as they were previously using multiple certificates and hashes for their rules in AppLocker. Now they can use one rule where the application being opened must be signed by CodeSign Secure.
The company fortified their code signing security by deploying different access methods, which include P12 certificates, user permissions, and applications that specify which certificates can be used in which environments. This enabled flexible and safe access controls, thereby allowing only authorized users and systems to interact with their code signing process.
The digital signatures created by CodeSign Secure were protected with secure timestamps, which has made it possible for them to achieve Timestamp Security and meet the CA/Browser Forum compliance in accordance with the stipulations of RFC 3161 and Authenticode. In addition, with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSM compliance, they met the CA/Browser Forum June 2023 requirement and improved security, integrity, and compliance in their code signing processes.

Impact

The organization received several core benefits after CodeSign Secure was integrated into the organization. The first one is automating the code signing process through their Azure DevOps pipeline since this not only simplified their working processes but also reduced manual work. This improved the operational capacity of the organization as it was able to enhance the delivery of its software within a short period of time and in a more effective manner.

Introducing an HSM to protect their valuable private keys enhanced the organization’s security and reduced unauthorized access to these keys. The integration also considered the organization’s policies and legal requirements, therefore, the organization was able to comply with the required market and policy standards with ease.

Such improvements helped them to win users’ trust and improve the company’s standing in the market. Now, most customers are comfortable using this organization’s software because it has a very secure code signing process where the end-user can be assured that the entire code creation process is done securely. It further projects security and data protection as the organization’s core values. This, in turn, has enhanced the efficiency of the operational performance and sustained growth and loyalty of the consumers.

Conclusion

In short, CodeSign Secure is an application that any organization that desires to go through its code signing process quickly and efficiently without compromising on security and compliance standards should have. Problems related to manual code signing processes, ensuring security of keys from unauthorized access, and complying with relevant regulations are resolved effectively with CodeSign Secure. Major security issues are minimized, and operational expenses are reduced.

Most significantly, regulatory requirements are met by automating the signing, protecting private keys by using HSMs, and ensuring auditable logs of each and every stage of signing are kept. This means that the organization’s data is secured, and users are more comfortable with the usage of the application.

Google’s 90-Day TLS Certificates Validity Proposal: A Security Win or a Challenge for Enterprises?

What is Google’s 90-Day TLS Certificate Validity Proposal?

Google is pushing to reduce the maximum lifetime for public TLS certificates from 398 days down to 90 days. The 398-day duration was previously set to balance the need for security with the operational ease of certificate renewals, especially in environments lacking automation. Their rationale is that shorter certificate lifespans promote automation, reduce security risks, and help the digital ecosystem adopt the latest security practices faster, for example, in faster adoption of secure protocols like quantum-resistant cryptography, secure protocols like quantum-resistant cryptography, or, in the future, quantum-resistant cryptography.

In its public announcements, Google emphasized that reducing certificate lifetimes would require any public TLS certificate used for HTTPS to be renewed every three months instead of annually. This proposed change is part of Google’s ongoing efforts to enhance web security globally.

For more technical details on TLS certificates, check our blog here.

What is the reason Google is pushing such a change?

According to a study by Ema Reports, nearly 80% of TLS certificates are vulnerable to man-in-the-middle attacks, with 25% being expired or self-signed. Additionally, expired certificates contributed to the 2017 Equifax breach. Google, Apple, and Mozilla argue that reducing certificate lifespans to 90 days will mitigate these vulnerabilities and help organizations adopt more secure, updated protocols faster. We regularly observe scenarios where there is a compromised certificate out there that is valid for a year.

Now, such a wide span of time is an open invitation to give attackers plenty of time to exploit vulnerabilities. Reducing the lifespan to just 90 days (about 3 months) narrows that window, meaning any potential breach is mitigated much faster. The 90-day certificate lifespan is chosen because it provides better security without being too hard for businesses to manage. A 30- or 60-day cycle would require more frequent renewals, creating more work for companies. 90 days is long enough for organizations to handle but short enough to reduce security risks, making it a good middle ground.

Enhanced Security
Reducing the certificate validity period limits the exposure time if a private key is compromised. With a 90-day certificate lifespan, any misuse or compromise of the certificate can be identified and mitigated quickly, ensuring that attackers don’t have extended access. However, in the case of a major financial corporation’s web server being compromised, waiting for the next scheduled expiration might still pose a risk. This is why, beyond just relying on expiration periods, organizations should implement real-time monitoring, immediate revocation processes, and automated key rotation to reduce potential damage from such breaches.
Improved Agility
Shorter certificate lifespans, such as 90 days, make it easier for websites and apps to adopt new cryptographic standards and respond to security vulnerabilities quickly. This flexibility helps organizations stay updated with the latest encryption algorithms recommended by NIST, such as transitioning from SHA-1 to SHA-256. By shortening certificate lifespans, systems can more rapidly implement new security measures, improving overall protection against emerging threats like quantum computing.
For more on NIST’s cryptographic standards, visit here.
Encouragement of Automation
Shorter validity periods drive organizations toward automated certificate renewal processes, which reduces the likelihood of expired certificates causing outages and enhances overall security.

The Automated Certificate Management Environment (ACME) protocol helps automate this process by enabling flawless certificate issuance and renewal. It removes the need for manual work, making sure certificates stay valid and do not expire, and also reduces the downtime caused by expired certificates. This prevents outages and keeps systems secure and running smoothly. With automation, IT teams can focus on higher-priority tasks while ensuring continuous encryption and compliance with industry standards like the 90-day renewal mandate.
Supporting Compliance and Preparing for Post-Quantum Cryptography
Google’s push for 90-day TLS certificates isn’t just about improving security for now, but it is also about preparing for the future, especially with Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC).

Why does this matter?

Quantum computers could one day break current encryption methods, putting digital security at risk. So, the benefit that a shorter validity period offers is that it encourages us to keep the security practices up to date. This allows organizations to test and adopt quantum-resistant algorithms like CRYSTALS-Kyber in a controlled and seamless manner. By renewing certificates more frequently, businesses can integrate and evaluate these advanced algorithms, ensuring their systems are prepared for future advancements in computing technology.

Take online banking as an example. Right now, certificates secure your personal data. But in the future, quantum computers might be able to break the encryption. Updating certificates every 90 days helps businesses stay ahead by ensuring they can quickly switch to quantum-safe security methods when needed.

The CA/Browser Forum’s View on Google’s 90-Day TLS Certificate Proposal

The CA/Browser Forum plays an important role in shaping SSL/TLS standards, and when it comes to Google’s 90-day certificate proposal, they’re actively working to balance security with practicality. CA/B focuses on creating a more secure web ecosystem in which the shorter certificate lifespans help mitigate risks from compromised keys.

A notable example is the reduction of maximum SSL/TLS certificate validity from 825 days to 398 days in 2020, which reinforces the need for further renewals. More recently, the industry has moved towards 90-day certificate lifetimes, which further emphasizes automation’s role in ensuring compliance. These changes reflect a broader push toward shorter-lived certificates, reducing the window for potential compromise and ensuring cryptographic agility.

Now, what may be the understanding behind it? For now, the CA/B forum believes that this validity may result in the broader adoption of automated certificate management, and this will ultimately help in keeping pace with the evolving security protocols. They also believe that ACME protocols are going to be the key enabler for this change. This protocol automates the issuance, renewal, and revocation of certificates, helping businesses manage certificates easily.

Tools like Let’s Encrypt simplify SSL/TLS management, ensuring businesses meet shorter lifespans while maintaining strong security. The Forum also suggests some advice for big organizations and businesses, such as that we should be ready and prepared for this shift by adopting some automation tools that can handle the increased volume of certificates.

This proactive stance from the Forum underscores their belief that automation will be essential to handle the scale and complexity of managing certificates in a 90-day cycle.

Source: CA/Browser Forum official statement.

Advantages of 90 Days TLS Lifespan

Shorter TLS certificate lifespans, like the 90-day proposal, come with some amazing benefits. Let’s break it down with real-life examples.

Imagine big e-commerce websites like Amazon or Flipkart. These platforms handle vast amounts of sensitive customer data daily. The shorter certificate’s duration is going to ensure that the security is always up to date, and it also helps gain the customer’s trust. With the growing threat of online fraud, managing system vulnerabilities and risks has become increasingly challenging. This is why tech companies like Google are driving this change.

Another reason for this change is that it removes the risk of someone forgetting to renew it manually. You think of it this way: if there are no expired certificates, then it means no downtime or panic. The concept of no certificate expiration also allows companies to adopt the latest security upgrades quickly, staying ahead of cyber threats.

Shorter certificate lifespans, when combined with automation, help businesses prepare for Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), ensuring security and reducing human errors. For example, automated certificate renewal can prevent downtime caused by expired certificates, as seen when Cisco’s expired certificates disrupted services for over 20,000 customers.

Additionally, a report found that 81% of organizations experienced at least two disruptive outages due to expired certificates in the past two years, highlighting the importance of automation in maintaining customer trust. It’s a win-win for everyone!

Disadvantages if we shift to 90 Days Validity for TLS Certificates

When discussing a new proposal or change, we must consider its best and worst sides. We have already discussed the advantages of the shift to 90 Days validity of the TLS Certificate.

Impact of this change on the Small Businesses
Without automation, keeping certificates updated becomes a constant challenge. Missing a single renewal could lead to downtime, potentially driving customers away. While automation seems like the obvious solution, implementing it requires the right tools and processes.

For small businesses looking for cost-effective solutions, open-source tools like Certbot (for Let’s Encrypt certificates) can automate renewals at no cost. Other options include Step CA for managing internal certificates and ACME.sh, a lightweight ACME client. These tools reduce manual effort while keeping expenses low. Businesses with more complex needs can explore managed services like Lego or Smallstep, which offer more flexibility without high overhead costs.
Effect on Government Agencies on Legacy Systems
Government agencies can move to 90-day certificates step by step. They can use secure gateways like HAProxy or Nginx to manage renewals without changing legacy systems. Automating certificate updates with tools like Certbot or Smallstep can reduce manual work. They can start with public-facing services and then update internal systems. Adding 90-day renewals would mean constant updates, which could slow down essential services if anything goes wrong. It’s tough to implement these frequent changes with limited IT resources, especially when reliability is key. So, in this way, a great security step can also be disadvantageous for some.

Some critical legacy components can still be used for long-term certificates while automation is introduced where possible. Upgrading web servers and load balancers before older applications can make the process smoother. This approach improves security while keeping essential services running without extra pressure on IT teams.

See, certificates are particularly important for a business. They are like a passport for your website. If you have issues related to certificates, it can result in security-related issues. If they expire or are not managed well, it can lead to downtime, security risks, and a loss of customer trust. Let us look at some ways to avoid outages related to certificates.

Centralize Your Certificate Management using CertSecure Manager
CertSecure Manager keeps all certificates in one place, making it easy to track expirations, renew on time, and enforce security policies consistently. With a clear dashboard featuring 12 new KPIs (Key Performance Indicators) and automated workflows, organizations can simplify certificate management and reduce security risks.
Enhancing Security Beyond Automation
While automation ensures timely renewals, it is also important to conduct regular penetration testing to identify vulnerabilities caused by expired or misconfigured certificates. Organizations should also set up automated alerts for unusual certificate behavior and perform compliance audits to detect gaps in security enforcement.
Educate Your Team
Ensure your IT staff understand the importance of certificate management. Proper training can prevent human errors and promote best practices in handling certificates.
Monitor the Market and Adapt to Changes like Google’s 90-Day Proposal
We have the tech world that is always going to change, and so we have the regulations that monitor and check for a smoother transition. We must stay informed about industry updates and adapt quickly. Shorter certificate lifespans mean faster renewals, but they also push you to rely on automation and efficient management practices. So, what helps here is being proactive. It keeps your business ahead of the curve, and you may lead the changes in the industry.

What Does This Mean for DevOps?

If ever I must put it in a word, it will be automation. Think of renewing every certificate manually, and that too every 90 days; that sounds exhausting, right? That’s why automation has now become a necessity and not just another option. This is where ACME comes into play.

ACME automates certificate issuance, renewal, and revocation, making it a key component in CI/CD pipelines for secure deployments. ACME clients like Certbot or acme.sh can request and renew certificates, which are then validated using DNS-01 or HTTP-01 challenges. Once issued, certificates are deployed to web servers, load balancers, or reverse proxies like Nginx and HAProxy using automation scripts. Tools like Ansible, Terraform, or Kubernetes Secrets help distribute and reload certificates across environments.

CertSecure Manager enhances this process by providing centralized tracking, policy enforcement, and seamless integration, ensuring secure and automated certificate management without manual intervention.

Example: Manual vs. Automated Certificate Renewal

Manually renewing 500 certificates every 90 days could take a team around 250 hours annually, which, at an average cost of $50 per hour, equals $12,500 in labor costs. This doesn’t include the risks of human error or missed renewals, which could lead to costly downtime or security breaches.

With CertSecure Manager, the entire process is automated, from issuance to renewal, eliminating the need for manual intervention. This not only saves 250 hours of labor annually but also reduces the associated costs to near zero. By automating certificate management, your team can focus on delivering new features and improving the product while also ensuring consistent security with no risk of errors or missed deadlines.

The Role of Security Teams in Policies, Training, and Audits

There should be an established clear workflow to meet the 90-day TLS certificate validity requirement successfully. First, they should develop policies that define how certificates will be monitored and renewed, including clear roles and responsibilities. This includes steps like the ACME client requesting the certificate, the CA validating domain ownership, issuing the certificate, and automating renewals when the certificate nears expiration.

Alongside this, security teams must establish certificate management policies that align with frameworks like ISO 27001, defining roles, responsibilities, and processes for monitoring and renewing certificates.

The IT staff should be trained to understand the importance of timely renewals and the potential risks of non-compliance. Regular audits must be conducted to check for expired certificates and to ensure the renewal process is followed properly. These audits should identify gaps and vulnerabilities. Following each audit, policies and processes should be refined to ensure continuous improvement in certificate management.

How are the changes going to be rolled out?

As of now, we do not have a confirmed date for Google’s proposal. However, it was announced way back in 2023. Google plans to introduce this change either in their Chrome Root Program update or as a ballot proposal through the CA/Browser Forum. This would allow industry experts and certificate authorities (CAs) to weigh in on the decision and prepare for the transition. However, we can imagine that the transition to 90-day certificates will start with major browsers and Certificate Authorities (CAs) adopting the standard and setting it as a requirement.

It might begin with a phase-in period, where organizations get time to prepare and adjust. Historically, changes in certificate validity periods have taken several months to a few years to implement. For example, the reduction of certificate lifespans from 825 days to 398 days was proposed in 2019 and became effective in September 2020. Given this precedent, if the 90-day validity proposal is approved, the transition might take approximately one to two years.

For more information, you can refer to Google’s Chrome Root Program and the CA/Browser Forum’s announcements:

Google Chrome Root Program
CA/Browser Forum

Best Practices for a Smooth Transition

To easily handle the 90-day TLS certificate rule, start by planning ahead and automating certificate renewals. Train your team to keep track of deadlines, ensuring certificates are always current. By having a simple system in place, you can prevent issues. Below are the best steps to ensure a smooth transition to this new certificate requirement.

Organized Certificate Management for Better Security
Maintaining a centralized inventory of certificates is essential for tracking renewals and preventing expirations. Categorizing certificates by priority as critical, high, medium, and low ensures that the most important ones are renewed first. This approach reduces downtime, minimizes security risks, and makes certificate management more efficient.
Automate Certificate Management
Automation would be key here. Tools like CertSecure Manager by Encryption Consulting help seamlessly handle your certificates; it enhances security by identifying and removing certificates that are expired or unused and staying compliant with regulations. For small teams or anyone without dedicated IT resources, there is automation as it helps and works on the fact that no renewals are missed.
Set Up Alerts and Monitoring
We should keep the alerts and monitoring up all the time; even with automation, having alerts for renewal status helps catch any unexpected issues. Monitoring tools like Nagios or SolarWinds provide real-time alerts for certificate renewals, notify administrators of impending expirations or issues, and ensure proactive management even with automation in place.
Educate Teams Early
This change will likely require training, especially in organizations where there is not a dedicated security team. If someone is aware of how automation and renewal work, what errors can arise, and how to work on them, then the transition becomes smoother.
Consider Outsourced Solutions
A lot of times, small teams find the automation of certificates tricky. In such cases, these certificate management service providers are there to help make the transition process smoother.

Getting Started with CertSecure Manager

Evaluating your current certificate management strategy and adopting an automated solution like CertSecure Manager can improve efficiency and security. With features like ACME integration for automated certificate management and real-time reporting, CertSecure Manager ensures timely renewals and proactive monitoring, giving you better control over your certificates and reducing the risk of expirations.

Step 1: Conduct a Certificate Audit

You can use the CertSecure Manager to scan your entire network and discover all existing SSL/TLS certificates. This audit will help you identify certificates nearing expiration and those that need immediate attention.

Step 2: Implement ACME for Automated Renewals of Certificate

You can deploy ACME agents across your web servers and integrate them with CertSecure Manager. This setup automates the entire renewal process and ensures compliance with the 90-day mandate without any manual effort. ACME integration automates certificate issuance and renewal, while real-time monitoring sends alerts for expirations, ensuring proactive management and minimizing risks.

Step 3: Monitor and Optimize

When you are using the CertSecure Manager, you can enable real-time monitoring and set up alerts to receive notifications of upcoming expirations or potential vulnerabilities. With CertSecure Manager’s intuitive interface, you can quickly address any issues before they impact your services.

Step 4: Scale as You Grow

As your organization expands, so does your need for secure certificates. CertSecure Manager scales effortlessly, managing certificates across all your critical endpoints, from load balancers and API gateways to IoT devices and cloud services. I think it’s time you had a look at the product itself.

How Encryption Consulting Can Help?

Navigating this shift to 90-day TLS certificates doesn’t have to be a headache. Encryption Consulting is here to support organizations with expert insights and solutions that are custom-made for certificate management, automation, and crypto agility. Whether you are managing a few certificates or overseeing a large-scale digital infrastructure, Encryption Consulting offers solutions to make sure your certificate management process is both seamless and secure. So, if you are worried about the transition or have any cryptography-related queries, visit our education center or contact us.

Conclusion

Google’s proposal for a 90-day SSL/TLS certificate lifespan is a great move to enhance web security by reducing the risk window for certificates that have been compromised. Shorter validity periods demand automated Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM), leveraging protocols like ACME that help with the seamless issuance, renewal, and revocation. This approach minimizes human error and reduces the risk of expired certificates. They also match the modern DevOps practices by integrating automation into CI/CD pipelines. Enforcing more frequent domain validation also reduces the potential for CA mis-issuance and stale certificates, effectively tightening the security of enterprise networks and digital communications.

The success story of how we helped a leading financial US institution with our encryption assessment

Company Overview 

We successfully conducted our encryption assessment for one of our clients, a Fortune 500 organization in the finance sector. The organization’s portfolio consisted of several banks and ATMs spread across the nation, and they had a specialization in credit cards, auto loans, banking, and saving accounts. The US-based bank was founded decades ago and has multiple locations all across the country. While the institution grew rapidly over the span of a few decades, opening new locations in the states, the rapid growth was met with growing security risk factors that continued to open new security gaps.

With their goal to accelerate their growth in the coming years, they were seeking an assessment that gave them a complete overview of their current security architecture, identify vulnerabilities, get a tailored strategy and framework built to keep their expansion plans in mind, and meet all the necessary compliance regulations while protecting them from external threats.

Challenges

For banks dealing with financial transactions and records and protecting sensitive data like PII and PCI, security is of utmost priority. The organization was facing several issues in its cryptographic framework that lacked a structured and strategic approach.

They were exposed to cybersecurity attacks like Man in the Middle due to the lack of encryption of their sensitive data across storage, file, database, or internal data communication between different IT components, such as applications connecting to databases or services communicating internally within a system. It exposed their sensitive data to unauthorized parties that could read or alter it.

There was no proper key management practice established, including centralized key management practices, as native key management capabilities were utilized by different vendor-specific storage and backup appliances that have limited key rotation and generation practices.

Passwords were used in place of more secure key-based SSH authentication. Cryptographic private keys were stored without enforcing the least privileged access controls. Additionally, the absence of a defined key rotation policy for the SSH keys exposed the system to risks associated with the extended use of outdated or compromised keys.

Inconsistent encryption practices were in place for various cloud-based platforms, including encryption keys generated and managed by the respective service providers (AWS KMS and Azure Key Vaults). As a result, the Bring Your Own Key (BYOK) capability was not utilized, reducing the organization’s control over encryption keys. These inconsistencies left sensitive data inadequately protected in cloud storage.

Solution

Our approach was focused on solving all the identified challenges by creating a structured encryption assessment that evaluated their entire cryptographic framework, including certificate and key lifecycle management practices for on-premises and multi-cloud environments. We started our process by building a deep, comprehensive understanding of the cryptographic standards and analyzed the organization’s security environment’s challenges.

This was followed by an exhaustive review of existing cryptographic policies, processes, and standards, as well as in-depth workshops to understand all their encryption capabilities. We established specific use cases, such as encrypting databases and big data platforms like Hadoop and Cassandra, enabling TLS 1.2 and above protocols for data in transit. We also identified gaps in all the areas of their applied cryptographic practices that needed improvement.

Our assessment was conducted to meet the organization’s core security goals, including centralizing and automating their certificate and key lifecycle management processes to resolve their functionality issues, which in turn reduced their operational inefficiencies, ensuring timely renewals while minimizing the risk of outages. 

We standardized their data encryption at technology layers, including but not limited to application, database, file, and folder. We also ensured the consistent use of TLS 1.2 or above protocols to secure data-in-transit and transit and ensured the use of the least privileged access principles. 

We also ensured adherence to all the required compliance and regulatory standards, such as FIPS 140-2/3, NIST 2,0, NIS-2, DORA, and more., by reviewing, evaluating, and updating the cryptographic controls and standards and implementing them within the organization’s cryptographic framework.

Impact

Over the course of the project, we built a strong channel of communication with the client to get to the root of all their security issues and bridge the gap between their current environment and their security goals. We customized their strategy to close all the security loopholes in their cryptographic framework and build a remediation plan that not only helps to mitigate all their immediate challenges but also puts them on the path to meet their long-term security and compliance requirements. Our strategy was focused on strengthening access control, enhancing risk management, and embedding best practices in their day-to-day operations.

These are some of the many benefits they experienced that ultimately led to them achieving their goal of a secure, efficient, and scalable security architecture. They benefitted from reduced unauthorized access through the use of Identity and Access Management (IAM) and Role Based Access Control (RBAC).  We considerably reduced human error factors from the security equation by centralizing and automating all their certificate and key management processes.

We thoroughly reviewed and updated all their cryptographic policies and standards, which helped to build a better understanding and set them on the path to better align with advanced cryptographic controls that met all the necessary compliance and regulatory standards. By putting all the necessary security measures in their organization’s cryptographic framework, we were able to help them build the capability to become more crypto-agile and incorporate quantum-safe algorithms into their architecture so they could navigate future shifts.

We ensured that a scalable cryptographic framework was put in place that supported both their on-premises and multi-cloud environments (e.g., AWS, Azure, etc.). We also supported the organization in enhancing its ability to manage and standardize cryptographic controls like utilizing TLS 1.2 or above protocols to secure data-in-transit for multiple applications and platforms, enabling them to be in a much better position to adapt to scale with its growing operational demands while keeping the increasingly sophisticated threats at bay

Conclusion

For financial institutions, trust is at the very core of everything they do. Our Encryption Assessment was successful in meeting the institution’s goal to transform encryption from a safety net to a strategic asset, including strengthening key management practices, advancing encryption technologies, and ensuring that digital certificate and key lifecycle management practices are aligned with industry best practices. We assisted the organization in transforming its cryptographic framework into a secure, scalable, and future-ready foundation, setting it on a path to a more secure tomorrow.

What is CA/B Forum?

The CA/B Forum is a group of tech heavyweight Certificate Authorities (CAs) (who issue digital certificates), browser makers (like Chrome and Safari), and other tech companies. What is their mission? It is to set the standards for securing websites and online communication with SSL/TLS certificates.

Let me break it down for you in simpler terms with an example. In 2017, Symantec was found issuing TLS certificates without proper validation, posing security risks. Following the CA/B Forum’s guidelines, browsers like Google and Mozilla revoked Symantec’s certificates. This prevented attackers from exploiting the improperly issued certificates and safeguarded user data.

You might have been to a website where the browser shows you a warning stating, “This website is not secure.”

The CA/B Forum helps make the internet safer by setting standards for SSL and TLS certificates. These standards ensure that websites with a padlock icon are verified and encrypted, making it harder for attackers to steal or alter user data. However, browsers are the ones that enforce warnings like “This website is not secure.” These warnings appear when a website’s certificate is expired, invalid, or missing. While the CA/B Forum sets the rules, the browsers detect and alert users based on the certificate’s status.

Key Standards and Guidelines Set by the CA/B Forum

The implementation of the guidelines and the standards is something we cannot tamper with in security. It’s important to follow the rules, guidelines, and standards set by the CA/B Forum. Here, we are going to discuss some of the major requirements from the Forum.

Baseline Requirements for SSL/TLS Certificates
The CA/B Forum sets standards for SSL/TLS certificates, with certificate transparency being a key requirement. Certificate transparency involves logging every issued certificate in public databases, allowing anyone to monitor certificates for a specific domain. This helps detect unauthorized or mis-issued certificates and enables website owners to revoke them quickly, preventing misuse and improving overall security.
This initiative is a collaborative effort between browsers, Google, and the CA/B Forum. While the Forum sets the guidelines, browsers ensure users are protected by flagging certificates that are compromised, expired, or untrusted. Certificate transparency plays a vital role in making the web safer by offering an open and accessible way to verify the legitimacy of certificates.
Learn more about CA/B forum’s Baseline requirements from here.
Other Requirements
The CA/B Forum has working groups that create standards for secure communication, including Code Signing, S/MIME, and Network Security. It also mandates protocols like the Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) and Certificate Revocation Lists (CRL). These ensure that compromised certificates are identified and revoked in real time. For example, if a certificate is misused or compromised, OCSP ensures it is invalidated promptly, reducing the risk of attacks using revoked certificates.
Extended Validation (EV) Guidelines
The CA/B Forum introduced Extended Validation (EV) guidelines in 2007 to require stricter verification for certificate requesters. This process helped websites build trust with users by confirming their identity. EV certificates were particularly used by banks and other organizations handling sensitive user data, offering assurance that the site was verified.
However, most browsers no longer highlight EV-specific indicators, such as showing company names in address bars, due to limited impact on user behavior. As a result, the practical significance of EV certificates has been reduced. Despite this, the stricter validation process continues to be important for ensuring higher security for websites and their users. EV certificates offer a higher level of trust, making it easier for users to identify legitimate sites and protect them from phishing attacks. You can get more information about the topic from the sites mentioned below.
Current Version: EV TLS Server Certificate Guidelines 2.0.1.
Other Versions: Validation documents
Stronger Cryptographic Algorithms
The Forum has worked to promote the use of stronger cryptographic algorithms by deprecating outdated ones and improving security across the internet. This includes transitioning from algorithms like SHA-1 to SHA-256 for certificate signatures, significantly improving encryption strength. The Forum is also collaborating with industry leaders on post-quantum cryptography to address new threats from advancements in computing, such as quantum computers. NIST has already selected several PQC algorithms to prepare for the future threats posed by quantum computers. For example, CRYSTALS-Kyber has been chosen for secure key exchange, and CRYSTALS-Dilithium has been selected for digital signatures. These algorithms are designed to resist attacks from quantum computers, which could break traditional encryption methods.
The CA/B Forum will likely align with these efforts to guide certificate authorities (CAs) and browser vendors in adopting these new algorithms. This collaboration will help ensure that digital certificates and encryption methods remain secure in the future.
A recent example of how these standards help is the decision by major companies like Google and Microsoft to fully phase out SHA-1 certificates. This move significantly strengthened the security of millions of websites, preventing potential attacks like the one seen in 2017 when attackers were able to exploit weaknesses in SHA-1 certificates to forge SSL/TLS certificates. By adopting stronger encryption methods, businesses can safeguard their users’ data and avoid similar vulnerabilities. Here, we can get a reference about the guidelines set by the CA/B forum for the developers: Developer’s guidelines.
Network and Certificate System Security Requirements
The CA/Browser Forum also established a set of Network and Certificate System Security Requirements. These requirements dictate security measures that CAs must adopt to protect the infrastructure that issues certificates and ensure the security of their certificates. For instance, after the DigiNotar breach in 2011, which compromised its certificate issuance system, the Forum introduced stricter guidelines to prevent such incidents.
Current Version: Network and Security System Requirements.
Older Version links: Older version of the requirements.
Alignment with NIST and FIPS Standards
The CA/Browser Forum, NIST, and FIPS work together to strengthen internet security, especially in digital certificates. The CA/Browser Forum requires strong encryption methods to protect digital certificates. These methods must follow NIST’s FIPS 140-2 standard, which sets rules for how encryption should be handled securely. This ensures that the certificates issued are based on the best and most secure encryption practices. NIST’s Requirements for the Cryptographic Modules.
Now, when you compare these requirements with the CA/B forum’s requirements for the cryptographic modules, you will understand how the two work hand in hand. Similarly, for Key Management, NIST’s guidelines on key management, such as SP 800-57, align with the Forum’s requirements to securely store and protect private keys. This helps prevent key compromise, a critical risk to certificate integrity. Here is the link where you can check NIST Key Management Requirements.
CA/B Forum Code Signing Requirements
If you are wondering about the scope and reach of the CA/B forum, you might be shocked. The CA/Browser Forum also works efficiently with the code signing certificates. They are used to ensure the integrity and origin of software downloaded from the internet. For instance, Microsoft uses code signing certificates to verify Windows updates, protecting users from installing malicious software disguised as legitimate updates. These guidelines enhance security by protecting against malicious software and ensuring that users are downloading safe, verified programs. You must read about it: here.
Reducing SSL/TLS Certificate Validity Periods
The CA/B Forum introduced shorter SSL/TLS certificate validity periods due to concerns regarding certificate security and its breaches. This announcement was aimed at reducing the risk of certificates being compromised over time. Shortening the validity period forces faster renewal and better tracking of certificates.
For example, shorter validity periods helped Apple quickly adopt secure algorithms across its ecosystem, ensuring that compromised or outdated certificates were promptly replaced. Google’s move to 90-day certificates has further strengthened security, reducing the risk of key compromise. You can learn how one can smoothly transition and work on the SSL/TLS Certificate Validity from the following link: Encryption Consulting Google’s 90-Day Certificates.

The CA/Browser Forum’s Impact on Internet Security

The CA/Browser Forum is an organization that helps improve Internet security by creating rules for how digital certificates should be issued and used. The Forum’s guidelines make sure that only reliable organizations can get these certificates. This helps reduce the chances of fake certificates being used and keeps users safe while browsing the internet.

One of the main ways the Forum helps is by protecting against man-in-the-middle attacks. These attacks happen when hackers try to intercept and steal data being shared between a user and a website. The Forum needs all the websites to use encryption. Encryption scrambles data so that it cannot be read by anyone who is not supposed to see it. This makes it much harder for hackers to steal or tamper with information during these attacks.

The Forum also helps prevent data breaches by promoting proper certificate management. Certificates help control who can access sensitive information. When certificates are managed correctly, it is more difficult for unauthorized people to access private data. This is important for keeping personal and business information safe from cybercriminals.

Risks of Not Properly Following CA/B Forum Guidelines

Think of a scenario when you are not following the CA/B Forum guidelines; well, this is going to create serious repercussions. Improper adherence to the CA/B Forum guidelines can lead to various cyber threats. Here, we are going to discuss some of the popular cyber-attacks and their consequences in situations when CA/B Forum guidelines were not correctly followed.

1. Data Breaches and Security Vulnerabilities

Without strict certificate management, your sensitive information could be exposed to cyberattacks like phishing, certificate spoofing, or man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks.

Equifax Data Breach (2017)

One of the largest data breaches in history, affecting 147 million people, was partly due to an expired SSL certificate. The expired certificate prevented encrypted traffic inspection on an internal server, making it impossible to detect a data breach that lasted 76 days. This failure exposed sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers and financial data.
Adhering to the CA/B Forum’s guidelines on certificate lifecycle management, including automated monitoring and renewal of SSL certificates, could have prevented this failure. Organizations must actively track and renew certificates to maintain encryption and ensure network security tools function as intended.

Google’s Mis-issued Symantec Certificates(2017)

Google discovered that Symantec-issued SSL certificates did not meet CA/B Forum standards. Symantec’s CAs improperly issued over 30,000 certificates without proper validation, violating the baseline requirements for certificate issuance. The impact of this incident was that Google and Mozilla announced they would gradually distrust Symantec-issued Certificates.
To prevent such incidents, organizations must also monitor their CAs to ensure they follow established guidelines. In this case, stricter oversight of Symantec’s validation processes and adherence to the Forum’s rules could have avoided the mis-issuance. After the issue was discovered, the CA/B Forum’s standards provided a foundation for browsers like Google and Mozilla to hold Symantec accountable, phasing out trust in improperly issued certificates and ensuring higher security moving forward.

2. User Distrust

If certificates aren’t properly managed, browsers may show warnings, causing users to lose trust in your website or brand. So, we should always follow the guidelines of the CA/B forum to maintain the user’s trust. Let us see one such failure that happened in 2011.

DigiNotar Breach (2011)

In 2011, exploiters compromised DigiNotar, a trusted certificate authority, and issued fake SSL certificates for major domains like Google. These certificates were used in a man-in-the-middle attack, causing a significant security breach. The incident led to browsers revoking trust in DigiNotar’s certificates, ultimately resulting in the company’s collapse.
This case emphasizes the importance of following CA/B Forum guidelines, such as ensuring secure CA systems, validating certificate requests carefully, and using certificate transparency logs to detect unauthorized certificates. If these practices had been followed, the attack could have been detected and prevented, preserving user trust and DigiNotar’s credibility.

3. Compliance Failures

Not following these standards could lead to non-compliance with the regulations set for the industries, which can result in fines and penalties. So, we must see some examples and what is the impact when a compliance failure happens.

Trustico Incident (2018)

In 2018, Trustico, a reseller of SSL certificates, improperly handled private keys by storing them insecurely. When Trustico shared private keys via email with DigiCert, it violated CA/B Forum requirements for secure key management. This raised significant concerns about the security of the certificates and led DigiCert to revoke over 23,000 SSL certificates issued through Trustico.
This incident highlights the importance of adhering to CA/B Forum guidelines, which require secure storage and handling of private keys to prevent unauthorized access. Had Trustico followed these rules, the compromise could have been avoided, maintaining user trust and avoiding mass revocations that disrupted businesses relying on those certificates.

Best Practices to Mitigate Risks and Ensure CA/B Forum Compliance

By following best practices, we can effectively mitigate risks and strengthen security for our organization. Also, the best practices make us stay regulated and relevant in the world of technology.

1. Automate Certificate Management

Automating certificate management is an essential part of this. Using tools like CertSecure Manager can help automate the renewal and monitoring of SSL certificates. This ensures that certificates are always current and do not expire without notice. Additionally, protocols like ACME, used by Let’s Encrypt, automate the issuance and renewal of SSL/TLS certificates, which helps maintain security and compliance.

For example, a company that automates its certificate renewal process will avoid security warnings on its website and maintain trust with its users. Without automation, expired certificates can lead to browsers showing security warnings, which can cause users to abandon the site, affecting both the business and its reputation.

2. Regular Audits and Monitoring

Regularly audit certificates to ensure compliance and quickly spot any potential vulnerabilities or expired certificates. Ever lose track of all the apps installed on your phone? Some might be old or unused, but they’re still there, taking up space or even causing trouble. The same happens with your certificates as well.

3. Follow Strong Encryption Standards

Adhere to the latest encryption requirements, such as 2048-bit keys for RSA, to ensure strong security. Imagine your Wi-Fi has no password. Anyone nearby could hop on and mess with your connection. That is what happens when companies use weak encryption. So, like strong Wi-Fi passwords, we must also use powerful SSL keys, which create super-strong digital locks.

4. Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

Implementing Role-Based Access Control (RBAC) is an important step in managing certificate security and ensuring compliance with CA/B Forum standards. By restricting access to certificate management tasks based on user roles, RBAC reduces the risk of unauthorized changes and enhances security. This ensures that only authorized personnel can modify, renew, or monitor certificates, preventing accidental or malicious alterations.

Tools like our CertSecure Manager (Certificate Management tool) and our CodeSign Secure (Code Signing tool) make it easier to implement RBAC effectively in your existing workflow. CertSecure Manager allows you to automate certificate renewals and monitoring while enforcing RBAC, ensuring that only the right individuals have access to critical certificate management functions. CodeSign Secure ensures that only trusted users can sign software code, preventing tampering. These practices not only help mitigate security risks but also align with CA/B Forum’s best practices, ensuring your organization remains compliant and secure.

5. Plan for Incident Response

In case of a security issue, you have a plan to quickly revoke compromised certificates and replace them with new ones, limiting damage in case of a security issue.

A tech startup once had its SSL/TLS certificate stolen and was stuck for days without a plan. They struggled to revoke the compromised certificate and replace it quickly, which caused major disruptions to their services. To prevent this, companies should automate certificate revocation and replacement using tools like CertSecure Manager or ACME protocols. For example, CertSecure Manager can instantly revoke a compromised certificate and issue a new one, ensuring minimal downtime and stopping hackers from exploiting the stolen certificate. This approach ensures that operations stay secure and run smoothly during emergencies.

How Can Encryption Consulting Help?

With deep expertise in security and compliance, we empower organizations to navigate the complexities of CA/B Forum guidelines while mitigating certificate-related risks. Businesses can streamline their certificate management through tools like CertSecure Manager, automate certificate renewals, and regularly audit their systems to identify vulnerabilities. We also help implement security policies, such as Role-Based Access Control (RBAC), ensuring only authorized users can manage certificates.

As part of our commitment to strengthening security, we recommend using Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC) for SSL/TLS certificates. ECC offers the same level of security as traditional RSA with smaller key sizes, making it more efficient and less resource-intensive, which is particularly beneficial for mobile and IoT devices. Additionally, we support the deprecation of weak ciphers like RC4 and 3DES in SSL/TLS communications in alignment with CA/B Forum recommendations, ensuring that organizations adopt modern encryption practices for improved security. Through our solutions like Code Signing and services like HSM-as-a-Service, and PKI-as-a-Service. We help businesses build trust with their users while maintaining the highest encryption standards.

Conclusion

Following the CA/B Forum guidelines is crucial for keeping digital certificates secure and trusted. Automating certificate management, using stronger encryption like ECC, and making sure compromised certificates are revoked quickly help prevent risks. Tools like CertSecure Manager and CodeSign Secure make it easier for organizations to stay compliant and protect their software. By following these practices, businesses can keep their systems secure and build trust with their users.

Configure Group Policy to Auto-enroll Windows devices

What is the meaning of Group Policy auto-enrollment?

In an Active Directory environment, you can leverage Group Policy to streamline the enrollment process for your domain-joined devices, which means that you can use Group Policy to automatically enroll devices into a management system like Mobile Device Management (MDM), such as Microsoft Intune. This is beneficial for organizations that have a large number of corporate devices or Bring Your Own Device (BYOD) and want to ensure that they are all enrolled in PKI for proper management and security.

The purpose of Auto-enrollment

When you create a Group Policy in your local Active Directory, it essentially triggers the auto-enrollment process into Microsoft Entra ID and without any user interaction you will be able to roll out Microsoft Entra ID enrollment to thousands of devices seamlessly. Here’s the key usage of auto-enrollment:

Signing In: Once a user signs in to their device with their Microsoft Entra account, the enrollment process initiates in the background. This means that users can get started with their work without any interruptions, while their devices are being securely enrolled into Microsoft.
Mass Enrollment: The cause-and-effect mechanism of this setup allows for mass enrollment of numerous domain-joined devices. Rather than having to go to each device individually to enroll it, you can set this up once and let Group Policy handle the rest. Saving time and ensuring that all your devices are consistently managed under the same policies.

Pre-requisites

A two-tier PKI, along with the Domain Controller with configured Active Directory must be set up.
The device must be running a version of Windows that is supported for MDM enrollment.
Ensure that the Windows Server version meets the minimum requirements specified by Microsoft for hybrid join scenarios. This is crucial for proper integration and functionality with Microsoft Entra.

How to configure the Group policy and enable the auto-enrollment

1. Create a Group Policy Object (GPO) in Domain Controller

Open Group Policy Management
In the console tree, right-click Group Policy Objects under your domain (e.g.,EncryptionConsulting.com).
Select New to create a new GPO.
Name the GPO (e.g., Auto-enrollment).
Right-click on the newly created GPO and select Edit.

2. Configure Certificate Auto-Enrollment

In the Group Policy Management Editor, navigate to:

Computer Configuration > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Public Key Policies.
Right-click on Certificate Services Client – Auto-Enrollment and select Properties.
In the Auto-Enrollment Policy Configuration window, configure as follows:
- Configuration Model: Enabled
- Check the boxes for:
  
  1. Renew expired certificates, update pending certificates, and remove revoked certificates.
  
  2. Update certificates that use certificate templates.
- Set a percentage for certificate expiry notifications if needed (e.g., 10%).
Click OK to save the changes.

3. Link the Group Policy Object (GPO) to Your Domain

Go back to Group Policy Management.
Right-click on your domain (e.g., EncryptionConsulting.com).
Select Link an Existing GPO.
In the Select GPO window, choose the Auto-enrollment GPO you just created.
Click OK.

4. Ensure Group Policy is Enforced

After linking the GPO, ensure that the Enforced column is set to Yes.
If it is not enforced, do the following:
- In Group Policy Management, under the domain level (e.g., EncryptionConsulting.com), right-click the Auto-enrollment GPO.
- Select Enforced to ensure the policy is applied across the domain.

5. Verify Auto-Enrollment Configuration

In the Windows 11 Client Machine Open Task Scheduler.
Check under the EnterpriseMgmt folder for tasks created by the enrollment client, ensuring the auto-enrollment task is ready and scheduled.

6. Force Group Policy Update

Open Command Prompt as an administrator.
Run the following command to update group policies: gpupdate or gpupdate /force
Ensure the update completes successfully.

7. Verify Group Policy Application

In Command Prompt, run the following command to check the applied policies: gpresult /r
Confirm that the Auto-enrollment policy is applied to the necessary computers and users.

Benefits of Auto-Enrollment

Now, let’s understand the benefits of using this auto-enrollment approach:

Time-Efficiency: With auto-enrollment, your IT team can focus on other strategic initiatives rather than spending hours on manual enrollment processes.
Consistency: Ensuring that every device is enrolled with the same policies helps maintain compliance and security across your organization.
User Experience: For end-users, this means a hassle-free experience. They can start working immediately without dealing with the complexities of enrollment.

How Encryption Consulting can help

Encryption Consulting provides specialized services to identify vulnerabilities and mitigate risks by providing PKI Services. Our strategic guidance aligns PKI solutions with organizational objectives, enhancing efficiency and minimizing costs. By partnering with Encryption Consulting, organizations can unlock the full potential of PKI solutions, realizing tangible financial benefits while maintaining strong security measures.

CertSecure Manager has a comprehensive suite of lifecycle management features. From discovery and inventory to issuance, deployment, renewal, revocation, and reporting. CertSecure provides an all-encompassing solution. Intelligent report generation, alerting, automation, automatic deployment onto servers, and certificate enrollment add layers of sophistication, making it a versatile and intelligent asset.

Conclusion

In conclusion, Group Policy auto-enrollment offers an efficient and streamlined solution for enrolling and managing domain-joined devices within an Active Directory environment. By automating the enrollment process, organizations can save time, ensure consistent application of policies across all devices, and enhance security management.

This approach not only simplifies device enrollment for IT teams but also provides a smooth, uninterrupted experience for end-users. With the benefits of time-efficiency, policy consistency, and improved user experience, auto-enrollment can play a critical role in maintaining a secure and compliant organizational environment.

Understanding CI/CD Pipelines and Code Signing

Threats Faced by Open Source and AI Tools

Conclusion

New Organizational Requirements with NIS 2

1. Risk Management

2. Reporting Obligations

3. Corporate Accountability

4. Business Continuity

How does NIS 2 affect an organization?

NIS 2 – Actions to take now

1. Verify whether NIS 2 applies to your company

2. Identify applicable Member State laws for your company

3. Determine if your business is subject to any new EU cybersecurity regulations

4. Evaluate your company’s incident response procedures

5. Review your company’s cybersecurity risk mitigation procedures

Meeting NIS 2 Compliance with Encryption Consulting

Conclusion

Company Overview

Challenges

Solution

Impact

Conclusion

Company Overview

Challenges

The Solution

The Impact

Conclusion

Implications of Apple’s 45-day proposal

1. Strengthened Security

2. Greater Operational Challenges

3. Strategic Adjustments for Businesses

Security Challenges with Shorter Certificate Lifespan

1. Legacy Systems and Non-Automated Environments

2. Burden to Small Businesses and Resource-Constrained Organizations

Prepare now for a shorter Certificate Lifespan with Encryption Consulting

Short-term planning

Long-term planning

EC’s Certificate Lifecycle Management Solution – CertSecure Manager

Company Overview

Challenges

Solution

Impact

Conclusion

What is Google’s 90-Day TLS Certificate Validity Proposal?

What is the reason Google is pushing such a change?

Why does this matter?

The CA/Browser Forum’s View on Google’s 90-Day TLS Certificate Proposal

Advantages of 90 Days TLS Lifespan

Disadvantages if we shift to 90 Days Validity for TLS Certificates

How should you prepare for certificate-related outages?

What Does This Mean for DevOps?

Example: Manual vs. Automated Certificate Renewal

The Role of Security Teams in Policies, Training, and Audits

How are the changes going to be rolled out?

Best Practices for a Smooth Transition

Getting Started with CertSecure Manager

Step 1: Conduct a Certificate Audit

Step 2: Implement ACME for Automated Renewals of Certificate

Step 3: Monitor and Optimize

Step 4: Scale as You Grow

How Encryption Consulting Can Help?

Conclusion

Company Overview

Challenges

Solution

Impact

Conclusion

Key Standards and Guidelines Set by the CA/B Forum

The CA/Browser Forum’s Impact on Internet Security

Risks of Not Properly Following CA/B Forum Guidelines

1. Data Breaches and Security Vulnerabilities

2. User Distrust

3. Compliance Failures

Best Practices to Mitigate Risks and Ensure CA/B Forum Compliance

1. Automate Certificate Management

2. Regular Audits and Monitoring

3. Follow Strong Encryption Standards

4. Implement Role-Based Access Control (RBAC)

5. Plan for Incident Response

How Can Encryption Consulting Help?

Challenges 

Company Overview 