Page 25 – Encryption Consulting

Everything You Need to Know About PKI Audit

PKI is the backbone of organizations’ security architecture, ensuring a smooth functioning of encryption, authentication, and secure communication over the internet. The efficient and secure working of such a complex system requires continuous monitoring and assessment. That’s where a PKI audit comes to the rescue to guarantee that your PKI infrastructure can combat the rising threats that continue to become more advanced and meet the constantly changing criteria of regulations and compliances.

Importance of PKI Audit

A PKI Audit is a necessity in a time like now. This strategic move helps to assess the current environment for security gaps. It ensures alignment with all the necessary business drivers and PKI requirements, serving as a proactive step towards enhancing your security posture and meeting all the compliance requirements.

A detailed gap analysis as part of a PKI Audit provides a comprehensive overview of all your PKI service domains. This includes governance, system architecture design, operations, risk and compliance monitoring, and certificate lifecycle management. This thorough examination ensures that no aspect of your PKI is overlooked, giving you a clear understanding of your security landscape.

You get the opportunity to compare the maturity of your PKI environment against a defined framework and comparative organizations and review the security controls, fostering a sense of competition and motivation to improve.

Why Get PKI Audit?

Vendor Reliance and Lock-in
A PKI Audit reveals your PKI infrastructure’s dependency on vendors to assess reliability and mitigate the risks of lock-in. Lock-in can lead to reduced control in the future, limiting flexibility and negotiation power.
Uncover Common Deployment Mistakes
One of the more common mistakes with a PKI is the lack of planning and tracking. Poor planning during the architecture deployment can hurt a PKI critically, as it opens security gaps that an attacker could exploit. Poor planning also leads to poor certificate and key management, offering another avenue for attackers to exploit.

Along with planning, poorly tracking PKI assets can also cause issues. A PKI Audit serves as the first to track the different components of your PKI, giving you more transparency into its inner workings to help you mitigate risks.
Deeper Look Into Working Of Root CA Security
As the root of trust, the Root CA is vitally important to the PKI and thus must be well secured. If the Root CA were to be compromised, the entire PKI would need to be recreated from scratch, as no certificates issued within that PKI would be trusted anymore. A PKI audit gives you insights into the efficiency of your Root CA’s security levels, which helps keep the Root CA’s keys secure from outside attacks.
Assessing The Efficiency of Your Certificate Lifecycle Management
 If certificates are compromised or left unused, malicious users could use the certificates to steal or access sensitive data. Also, if a user or application’s certificate were to expire without renewal, a loss of service could occur for that user or application.

A thorough audit helps you uncover these certificates and find management gaps that need to be fixed to have an effective digital certificate management process.
Analyzing the security levels in the storage of certificates and keys
Hackers can use various techniques to analyze and detect keys while they are in use or transit. Ensuring the keys are stored securely under FIPS 140-2 level 3 systems is necessary.

Bruce Schneier, a universally respected American cryptographer and security researcher, writes about key security with so much severity that you cannot help but feel a little guilty about everything you are not doing:

“One of the biggest risks in any CA-based system is with your private signing key. How do you protect it? You almost certainly don’t own a secure computing system with physical access controls, TEMPEST shielding, “air wall” network security, and other protections; you store your private key on a conventional computer. There, it’s subject to attack by viruses and other malicious programs.”

“Even if your private key is safe on your computer, is it in a locked room, with video surveillance, so that you know no one but you ever use it? If a password protects it, how hard is it to guess it? If your key is stored on a smartcard, how attack-resistant is the card? [Most are very weak.] If stored in a truly attack-resistant device, can an infected driving computer get the trustworthy device to sign something you didn’t intend to?”

A PKI audit gives you a complete overview of the storage process and its level of security. It is the first step towards protecting your digital keys and securing your organization from external threats.
Risk Assessment to Check for Outdated PKI
Outdated PKI systems lack all the necessary security features that open an organization to external threats and pose the risk of non-compliance.

These outdated systems may have deprecated algorithms, weak key lengths, and outdated certificate authorities, leaving your organization vulnerable to data breaches, man-in-the-middle attacks, and denial-of-service attacks. Regular audits of your PKI architecture guard against rising threats and ensure that you stay compliant and keep up with developments in the industry.
Meeting All Regulatory Standards
Cybersecurity is an industry that is constantly advancing, leading to changing regulations and new compliance requirements. Regulations, such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), ensure that organizations address the new privacy challenges.

Compliance with all the necessary set regulations is a legal requirement that can’t be overlooked. Assessing the health of your PKI and ensuring your organization meets all the compliance requirements protects you from hefty fines and reputational damages.
Maintaining Agile & Scalable Architecture
Organizations must not just invest in the now but also prepare for the future. A PKI audit not only helps to assess your current architecture for gaps and potential risks but also serves as a roadmap for potential growth in terms of maintaining and enhancing the agility of your PKI architecture.

It ensures that as your organization grows, your PKI environment can scale, integrate with new technologies, and meet the growing demands securely and effectively to enhance operational efficiency.
Enhancing The Cost Efficiency of Your Architecture
Maintaining outdated PKI systems, extensively relying on manual processes, and investing in digital certificates and certificate authorities that an organization no longer requires are additional expenses that can easily be avoided with a complete and detailed overview of your PKI. Auditing your infrastructure gives you insights into them and is an investment for future savings.
Integration with New Technology
It is imperative to equip your organization with new technological advancements to protect against the rising threats of sophisticated attacks. The output of a PKI audit gives the scope of the domains that require new technology to enhance digital defenses and improve the overall efficiency of day-to-day operations.

Integrating new technologies, such as cloud computing, blockchain, and the Internet of Things (IoT), is only possible when the PKI architecture stays updated to support the integration capabilities of modern technologies.
Discovering how to automate the delivery of certificates to devices
To run PKI smoothly on a large scale, automating the certificate deployment process is necessary. Changing the industry standards and decreasing the certificate validity periods means automation won’t be an option shortly but rather a necessity. There will be hundreds or thousands of devices to manage. Only by leveraging automation can this be handled efficiently and help maintain security by reducing chances of human errors and certificate-caused outrages. The four most common methods of handling automation are:
- RESTful APIs
  The chosen CA must allow the programming of RESTful API endpoints to use enterprise device management software.
- Simple Certificate Enrolment Protocol (SCEP)
  This route requires a SCEP agent on the devices to work with enterprise device management software. After that, the software sends the script to the device, telling it to get a cert.
- Enrolment over Secure Transport (EST)
  EST is the successor to SCEP. It is almost similar, except that it supports Elliptic Curve Cryptography (ECC), which helps create faster, shorter, and more efficient cryptographic keys.
- Microsoft AD Auto-enrolment
  This is used for automating certificate delivery directly to the Microsoft Key Store for all Windows PCs.

What Is Included in a PKI Audit?

A PKI Audit covers several factors that overlook all the key components of a PKI infrastructure to give you detailed insights into the health of your PKI. These factors include:

Certificate Validity
All digital certificates have expiry dates. For security reasons, it is unwise to reuse the same digital certificate for a long time without any oversight. If the expiry date is not documented and tracked orderly, the chance of a breach increases. An expired digital certificate provides no security at all.

PKI audit investigates the certificate lifecycle documentation of the digital certificates to check if all digital certificates are updated. It also analyzes if the organization has a strong PKI certificate management process and the scope for automation to ensure all stakeholders are notified before issuing or renewing a certificate to prevent certificate outages.

It is important to consider the expiration date and the process for replacing your certifications. We’ve discovered that using a single certificate throughout the device’s lifetime usually involves too many security trade-offs.
Certificate Integrity
Trust must first be established to convince customers or potential customers to transact or share information online. One way to do that technically is by using a proper Certificate Authority.

These are entities that verify the authenticity of a web-based service or product. Certificate Authorities prevent phishing attempts since they verify SSL/TLS certificates. Digital certificates, which some known Certificate Authority verifies, are considered safe, and many modern browsers and tools help identify that.

Under a PKI Audit, the issuance of digital certificates is examined in depth to determine whether they have all the parameters required to be verified by the CA. The documentation process is also checked to depict association and accountability. This helps in various situations, such as seamless renewal of an expired certificate, replacing a corrupted certificate, tracking a compromised certificate in a security event, and taking required preventative actions.
Certificate Issuance Policy
A Certificate Authority can impose certain restrictions on issuing a certificate. These restrictions can vary, such as restricting or forcing the allowing of X.509 values, restricting allowed subject fields or allowed issuance modes, etc. PKI audit checks the backtracking and troubleshooting of these issues and the efficiency of tracking all issuance policies associated with each certificate.
Certificate Endpoints
SSL certificates can be added to endpoints. Sometimes, one digital certificate is associated with multiple endpoints. This is tracked under a PKI audit to assess whether each is updated in scenarios like when the certificate expires and is renewed. Auditing helps to see if there is a potential for these endpoints to become vulnerable and exposed.
Encryption Key Size
The size of the encryption key is correlated and proportional to key strength. Keys such as RSA 4096 provide high security and assurance because of their larger size, making brute-force attacks difficult. The auditing process checks for any key that is a small bit size and is, therefore, weaker and vulnerable to threats.
Encryption Algorithm
A healthy PKI should always contain a robust hashing algorithm. Algorithms are updated over time to become stronger and swifter. For example, SHA256 is much more secure than SHA1—the auditing process tracks which algorithm is used and whether it meets the industry standard.
Assessment of The Use Cases
The auditing process covers a thorough analysis of the PKI use cases that includes but is not limited to:
- Web and application servers
  A look into implementing advanced levels of authentication and encryption across all websites and applications in their environment (on-prem and cloud) and behind the firewall.
- DevOps containers and code
  Assessing if the engineering team in the organization can incorporate compliant certificate processes into their regular workflow with code signing certificates and high-volume, short-lifespan SSL certificates to ensure the integrity of containers, the code they run, and the production applications that use them.
- Zero-Trust Security
  The audit examines the use of PKI Certificates and key pairs to strengthen digital identity verification and secure connections between entities beyond the firewall network architecture to ensure a Zero-Trust Security Strategy.
- Public-Cloud Certificate Management
  Check for a centralized certificate management solution that is being used to manage all the certificates automatically in both your cloud and enterprise environment to ensure all applications are running smoothly. The certificates protect the applications hosted in the cloud.
- Internet of Things (IoT) Devices
  Review the presence of strong identity authentication and remote security deployment to all connected devices to assess whether the organization can securely build, scale, and manage the IoT ecosystem.
Security Of Keys
Key compromise shares many security factors, such as certificate validity. Attackers can mimic a device, decrypt and read data, and authenticate to a network if they can obtain a private key. Keys must be safeguarded against compromise, revoked, and replaced if they are ever compromised if you wish to offer real authentication and encryption.

This means that putting keys on a device in plain text, where they could be easily extracted, is not a good idea. Instead, think about a hardware defense like a secure chip (TPM) or a software solution like an encrypted key store, which offers a real defense against attackers.
Analysis To Check If the Best Practices Are Being Followed
PKI audit helps to assess if the organization is following the modern PKI best practices that includes but are not limited to:
- Proper planning
  A detailed plan for PKI deployment is a must. Gartner says, “Security leaders that successfully reposition X.509 certificate management to a compelling business story, such as digital business and trust enablement, will increase program success by 60%, up from less than 10% today.”
- The use of skilled resources
  PKI is a critical infrastructure, so expert team members should implement and operate it within the organization. They will need to outsource the PKI to a trusted expert. A managed PKI provider can help overcome this problem.
- Store certificate and Key securely
  Hackers can use various techniques to analyze and detect keys while they are in use or transit. Therefore, it is essential to ensure the keys are stored securely under FIPS 140-2 level 3 systems.
- Understand your use cases
  Many organizations make this mistake; they design and deploy their PKI without brainstorming their use cases. It is essential to understand your organization’s use cases before finalizing the PKI design and deployment of PKI. When you know your use cases, you know what is best for your organization.
- Root Key Ceremony
  Implementing the Root Certificate Authority (CA) is like creating a “master key” to an organization’s network. The Root CA implementation is susceptible and should be handled and deployed in a controlled environment. The Root CA key Ceremony helps the organization record the event/activity formally, providing high assurance.
  
  You must dedicate an HSM (Hardware Security Module) to the Root CA when deploying it. This is a critical decision before deploying any of your PKI components.
- Certificate Policies and Practices
  In today’s digital world, a PKI is the best way for an organization to safeguard its sensitive data from unauthorized parties. Encryption serves as a lock and key to protect information from access by bad actors. Many organizations deploy their PKI as a project requirement and do not consider developing appropriate policies and procedures.
- Certificate Policy (CP)
  - A document that sets out each party’s rights, duties, and obligations in a Public Key Infrastructure.
  - The Certificate Policy (CP) is a document that usually has a legal effect.
  - A CP is usually publicly exposed by CAs, for example, on a Web Site (VeriSign, etc.)
- Certificate Practice Statement (CPS)
  - A document that sets out what happens in practice to support the policy statements made in the CP in a PKI.
  - The Certificate Practice Statement (CPS) is a document that may have legal effect in limited circumstances.
- Assessment of the Skill-Set of The PKI Admins
  PKI administrator requires quite a good skill set to handle day-to-day activities. Having coding skills while handling critical infrastructure like PKI is always important and good. Some of the development technologies that a PKI admin should know are Java, PowerShell scripting, Command line tools, HTML, XML, and JavaScript. The desired skills for a PKI admin would be as follows:
  - PKI hands-on experience handling Certificate Authority Administration, Certificate Enrollment Web Service & Policy Web Service, and Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS) monitoring.
  - Data-in-motion and Data-at-rest Encryption.
  - Understanding of PKI architecture.
  - System Administration of Windows Server 2012/R2 or 2016 and Windows 10, Unix, or Linux, and/or database skillset.
  - Expertise in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) machine identity technologies such as SSH, SSL, and TLS.
  - Disaster Recovery process and Business Continuity procedures.
  - Experience in managing Key Management Systems (KMS).
  Knowledge requirement
  PKI administrators are judged on the criteria of their understanding of the concepts of cryptography solutions, such as:
  - Symmetric/asymmetric cryptography
  - Secure hash functions
  - Digital signatures
  - SSL Certificates

Benefits of PKI Audit

Improved PKI posture 
PKI can benefit by increasing the network’s security level by binding an identity to a public key and allowing it to mitigate risks through encryption authentication and digital signatures. PKI audit helps to mitigate confidentiality and enhances its applications like:
- To secure various web pages.
- To encrypt files and secure them.
- To authenticate logins with the use of smart cards.
- Encrypting and authenticating email messages by using S/MIME.
- To authenticate connections to a specific VPN.
- To authenticate nodes that are to be connected to a wireless network.
Identifying the gaps in policies, procedures, and operations
The first step towards running an efficient and secure PKI system begins with assessing your security gaps. A PKI audit provides a detailed overview of the areas where your organization lacks and needs improvement. This information is invaluable to building a roadmap toward building an architecture that boosts operational efficiency, prevents threats, and proves to be a long-term financial investment.
Risk Mitigation
Organizations can effectively assess the security with a PKI Audit and avoid these security risks effectively:
- To prevent unauthorized access to web services.
- Prevent unauthorized access to knowledge stored in databases.
- Preventing unauthorized access to users’ or organizations’ networks.
- Verifying the authenticity of messages transferred on the network of users or organizations.
Business continuity
Data loss threat vectors will be reduced considerably with a risk reduction. The high availability of critical processes will ensure the smooth running of the business. A PKI Audit helps to fill all security gaps and supports the organization in boosting its disaster recovery readiness.
Long-term cost savings
A PKI Audit effectively reduces an organization’s financial implications by avoiding the risks of security breaches and regulatory fines and preventing administrative overhead.
Proactive Management
By auditing PKI architecture with specialized vendors, organizations can enhance their operational efficiency, prevent outages, and avoid the risks of external security breaches. Operational effectiveness will be monitored by performing regular PKI health checks.
Expertise On-Demand
PKI auditors bring invaluable expertise, offering insights and best practices that elude in-house teams. This highlights the security gaps and provides a roadmap to streamlining operations and liberating internal resources for core business functions.
Meeting All the Required Industry Standards
Compliance with regulatory standards and frameworks will be ensured as there are periodic checks on certificate health. Leveraging industry benchmarks such as ISO 27000 and PCI-DSS, organizations can enhance their security posture, build confidence among stakeholders and customers, and prevent cyber threats.
Futureproofing Your Architecture
Organizations can future-proof their infrastructure with a robust PKI framework in place. Regular PKI health checks will ensure a strong overall cyber security posture for the organization.

How Encryption Consulting Can Help?

Encryption Consulting has extensive experience in providing our PKI Audit services to the leading Fortune 500 companies. We utilize our own custom framework for Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) Audits based on the NIST guidelines and industry best practices.

We identify very specific gaps within our customer’s existing PKI and accelerate the business’s risk reduction efforts. Our strategic guidance and encryption experience across many industries, including healthcare, finance, pharma, and technology, supports organizations in preparing today for the threats of tomorrow.

Conclusion

Managing PKI is an important role and task for enterprise security teams, where errors, outdated tools and processes, and lack of visibility lead to expensive outrages and vulnerabilities. It is impossible to manage manually because of the rise in connected devices, so organizations must consider PKI audits to secure their architecture.

CA/B Forum and Code Signing

With the constant increase in cyber threats and vulnerability exploitation, online security is necessary to prevent any loss of personal information. Hence, Digital certificates are the most widely known online security method that protects the user’s data from a breach by establishing a secure connection online. Reducing the probability of receiving phishing messages or malware makes Digital certificates an important and continuously used measure for developing a secure digital trust.

To maintain this trust and accountability for each digital interaction, a set of regulations must be followed. The Certification Authority Browser forum is a voluntary organization that cooperates with many certification authorities and, thus, guarantees the validity of digital certificates by creating set standard requirements.

The CA/B Forum’s primary objective is to enhance online trust and security. They achieve this by formulating industry standards called the Baseline Requirements, and all CAs must deliver and handle digital certificates according to those requirements, whether for an SSL/TLS protocol or a code signing certificate.

The SSL/TLS certificate confirms the website’s identity to the client, and the Code Signing proves the application developer. These standards are crucial to ensuring the trustworthiness of the digital certification system, making the cyber world safe.

Updates in CA/B Forums Requirements for Code Signing

The CA/Browser Forum is also important in creating an environment where CAs and browser suppliers ensure that the digital certificates meet and follow the specific requirements. Over the years, many changes have been made to the CA/Browser Baseline Requirements, leading to a more secure Code Signing environment.

The set standards enable the end-user to know where the signed code was indeed used. Moreover, it increases trust in the venture, reduces the extent to which malware may be spread, and ensures that safe code is used where it is required the most. 

Conforming to these guidelines imposed by the CA/B Forum is instrumental in protecting the credibility and validity of digital certificates. These requirements establish ideal practices for issuing and administering digital certificates. By complying with the regulations, Certificate Authorities can certify that the issued certificates are validated and trustworthy. Additionally, these standards will promote a more dependable digital platform where users can feel safe with the information they come across and the software they utilize.

2021 – Initial Updates to strengthen the foundation

Minimum Key Strength Increased (June 2021)
The June 2021 update raised the minimum key strength for several certificates. Since the strength of the key determines the difficulty of breaking it, in a digital environment, such a higher key, for example, RSA-3072, is way more challenging to forge the digital signature, which ultimately ensures more data integrity and authenticity.
Stricter Verification and Private Key Protection (June 2021)
CA/B Forum implements stricter certificate identity verification and private key protection. These private keys should be secured by applying or equal to FIPS 140-2 level 2 cryptographic modules, which will not allow unauthorized control access.

2022 – Focusing on certain vulnerabilities and updates

Addressing Subordinate CA Certificate (March 2022)
For this update, any certificate issued by the Issuing CA that is used for timestamping or generating Code Sign certificates had to include a CA/B Forum reserved identifier. This helped make the timestamping reliable and efficient.
Phasing Out SHA-1 (April 2022)
The restrictions from the CA/B Forum on using SHA-1 on timestamp tokens were useful in preventing forgeries.
Time Encoding (July 2022)
This update classifies the time encoding within code signing certificate revocation entries. Previously, there was a discrepancy in the time encoded in the “Invalidity Date” field of CRL and the time encoded in the “revocationDate” field in actual revoked certificate. This update was aimed to ensure consistency and accuracy by mandating that the time encoded in both fields must be equal.

2023 – Focus on Private Key Security

Mandatory Hardware Crypto Modules (June 2023)
In June 2023, a major change required that all code signing certificates must use hardware crypto modules for private key generation, storage, and use. Hardware crypto modules, often referred to as HSMs, are like high-security vaults for private keys; they dramatically decrease the likelihood of compromise. These HSMs must comply with FIPS 140-2 Level 2 (or higher) or Common Criteria EAL 4+ requirements.

Before, software-based key generation was an option, allowing private keys to be more readily transmitted. Moreover, the verification techniques for certificates with Organization Validation and Individual Validation have been made stricter to confirm the identities of those ordering these certificates. The improvements established by the CA/B Forum in June 2023 are a significant advancement in making the code signing procedure more secure and reducing the chance for data exploitation.

Responsibilities of CA/B Forum

The CA/Browser Forum is responsible for various activities such as:

Aiding industry collaboration
The CA/B Forum facilitates collaboration by convening regular conferences and discussions among its members. These conferences serve as a platform for CAs and browser merchants, as well as other investors, to exchange information, discuss new risks, and collaborate on solutions. The CA/B Forum also has a mailing list and an online medium where members can communicate and collaborate.
Identifying emerging threats
The CA/B Forum regularly tracks the changing cyber threat situation. There are various ways to find possible threats, such as threat intelligence reports, various industry meetings, and technical exploration. Once a threat is found, the CA/B Forum will collaborate with its members to determine the appropriate course of action, which may require altering the Baseline Requirements or publishing new guidelines.
Defining technical specifications
The CA/B Forum defines specifications through its technical experts from the member organizations. These organizations can be certificate authorities or CA, browser vendors, etc.

These working groups elaborate on the conditions of a digital certificate issuing process, verification, revocation, and management. For instance, they indicate the minimum key strength for each certificate and the exact cryptographic algorithms that should be used.
Formulating mandatory compliance standards
The CA/B Forum doesn’t directly enforce its standards. However, they establish mandatory compliance requirements through a process of ballot voting by their members. These requirements dictate the actions certificate authorities (CAs) must take when issuing and managing certificates.

The CA/B Forum also publishes Baseline Requirements documents that detail these mandatory standards. CAs that fail to comply risk losing browser trust and having their issued certificates flagged as untrusted.

Future Proposals by CA/Browser Forum

Since technology changes rapidly, the CA/B Forum is always looking to the future to ensure that the existing system stays a strong part of online trust. This means not just responding to new threats but proactively considering how evolving technologies may change the process by which the certificates are issued, validated, and managed. They also ensure that the Baseline Requirements stay in parallel with changing regulations and industry best practices.

The following are the suggested proposals for future implementation:

Stricter Revocation Requirements (Proposed April 2024)
Presently, certificates might only be revoked if the private key associated with them is compromised, but the proposed update extends the scope of self-revocation of the certificate used to sign suspicious programs. By promptly revoking such certificates, the CA/B Forum helps prevent these malicious applications from being installed and executed.
Mandatory Audits (Proposed June 2024)
Auditing act as an independent security inspection as it confirms that these signing services are compliant with the latest security standards outlined by the CA/B Forum. This helps identify any possible flaws or vulnerabilities in the code signing operation. By addressing these vulnerabilities promptly, the CA/B Forum helps mitigate the risk of compromised certificates or other security breaches within the code signing process.

Conclusion

It is important to stay ahead of the CA/B Forum’s constantly growing security to ensure the integrity of the code signing certificates. Encryption Consulting’s CodeSign Secure solution assists you with FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSM compliance, according to the CA/Browser Forum’s specification of baseline requirements from June 1, 2023, and onward.

In addition to the CodeSign Secure solution, our HSM-as-a-service is FIPS 140-2 Level 3 validated hardware, allowing full coverage for organizations looking for even higher security. Our Solutions and services will ensure that the Code Signing process flows according to the latest best practices and CA/B Forum specifications in a secure, trust-oriented, user-centered software landscape.

Code Signing – A Manager’s Guide

How did code signing become important?

Let’s look at three interesting trends that have emerged in software development over the last decade.

One is that the number of companies that develop and release software has increased enormously. A key trigger for this has been the smartphone revolution and the associated need for companies to have their own mobile apps for their customers, as well as employees.

The second trend is that the primary means to distribute software, as well as the related patches and upgrades, has ubiquitously now become the internet. The advantages of using online software distribution, versus traditional methods such as CDs (Compact Discs) are significant: large scale, near instant software distribution at extremely low costs.

The third trend is the number of Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) who are primarily in the business of building software applications, has grown steadily over the years, with some research reports indicating a ten-fold growth over the last decade.

These trends explain how online software distribution has become the preferred method for companies developing and selling software. But does this method and its convenience-benefit also introduce business risk?

How does a user know whether the software being downloaded is from the original author (and not an impersonator)? How does the user know that the software has not been tampered with, and some malicious code inserted into the software? Code Signing provides the answer to these questions, by helping companies secure the software they release.

Apart from software developers and enterprise security specialists, it is critical for project managers, product managers, engineering managers and even senior management to be familiar with code signing. The reason is simple. Code Signing is an excellent safeguard against malware attacks. And malware is the most expensive type of attack on any enterprise: the average cost of a malware attack, as per a recent research report from IBM security, is $239 million which is 60 times more than the average cost of a data breach!

How code signing works?

The “code” in code signing can mean executables, archives, drivers, firmware, libraries, packages and essentially any software that is intended for release and distribution to another party or user.

To understand how code signing works, it is important to have a basic understanding of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). As defined in earlier articles on this blog, PKI is a set of roles, policies, hardware, software and procedures needed to create, manage, distribute, use, store and revoke digital certificates and manage public-key encryption. It is also important to understand the two primary objectives of code signing:

Code Ownership: Proving that the software code being downloaded and installed is from the original, authentic owner.
Code Integrity: Proving that the code has not been tampered with or changed in any way, e.g. with some malicious code (malware) being inserted in it.

The process of code signing involves four main steps which are described below.

Key Generation: The basic requirement for code signing is to have a private key and the corresponding public key available. The public and private key pair can be generated using a (trusted) third party tool or software. A detailed explanation of key generation is out of scope of this article.
Code Signing Certificate: You then need to apply for a code signing certificate with a Certificate Authority (CA), which is a trusted entity that issues digital certificates. The application needs to include your public key along with other organization identity details. Some of the well-known CAs include Verisign, Digicert, Symantec, GoDaddy, Comodo, Let’s Encrypt, and GlobalSign. The certificate that the CA issues includes information such as your (organization) identity, your public key, the certificate validity period, the digital signature of the CA, and other details.
Hashing: The next step is hashing your code. Hashing is a one-way process where data of any size and type can be converted, through a mathematical algorithm, to fixed size data. The algorithm is called a hash function and its output i.e. the fixed size data is called a hash value or hash. The hash value is totally different from the original data and the original data cannot be deduced from the hash.
Signing: The hash value of the software is then encrypted or “signed” using the private key. The encrypted hash, along with the code signing certificate, is added to the software package that is now ready to be shipped or distributed.The reason why the hash value is signed, and not the original software, is that the hash is a small amount of data (typically up to 512 bits) which can be encrypted very quickly, whereas the original software might be very large and might take a long time to encrypt. Also, there is no real need to encrypt the software code itself: the beauty of hashing is that if the original software code is modified even by a single bit, the hash value produced by the hash function is totally different.

Best Practices for Code Signing

We suggest the following practices for a secure Code Signing process:

Storing the private keys in HSM
The Hardware Security Module (HSM) doesn’t allow the export of private cryptographic keys to software, as that will make these keys vulnerable to attacks. After the CAB Forum’s June 2023 requirement, we highly recommend using a FIPS 140-2 Level 2 (or higher) certified HSMs for Code Signing.
Limiting private Key access
We highly suggest allowing only minimal connections to client systems with the private keys. Limiting key access to limited users will resolve a lot of inconspicuous user activity.
Code should always be Time-Stamped
Time stamping is a good way to track when code has been signed and helps check the validity period of the signature. It also allows the code to be verified after the certificate used for signing has expired or been revoked.
Avoid overusing one key
Organizations sometimes use the same key to sign code across multiple product lines and businesses. This isn’t a good approach. If that key gets compromised, all the releases signed by that key will be at risk. A good practice would be to rotate your keys as frequently as possible.
Create transparency and centralize the management
Generally, organizations manage certificates and keys manually. But this isn’t a good approach as manual processes neither provide complete visibility nor centralized control over keys. Applying various policies on the keys and regulating those is difficult without a centralized management system.

What happens when the software is downloaded?

At the receiver side, the browser being used to download the software first checks that the certificate in the code being downloaded is authentic and from a trustworthy CA. This is possible since the public keys of most of the well-known CAs are already pre-installed with most browsers and operating systems.

If the certificate is not authenticated, the browser will alert you and depending on browser security settings, may or may not allow the download. If the user ignores this warning, and attempts to install the software, the operating system will issue an alert indicating that the software publisher could not be verified and effectively discourages the user from installing the software. This addresses the first objective of code signing i.e. establishing code ownership.

If the certificate is authenticated, the public key is extracted from the certificate and used to decrypt the encrypted hash available in the package. Next the actual downloaded software (minus the certificate and hash) is hashed again using the same hash function. This hash value is compared with the decrypted hash value. If they match, the software has not been altered. If an attacker has changed the software (e.g. by adding some malware) then the hashes will not match, the operating system will throw an alert and refuse to install the software. This addresses the second objective i.e. ensuring code integrity.

Code Signing for Software Supply Chain Security

When a private key is compromised, the certificate loses its trust, destroying the authenticity and integrity of the software signed by this code-signing certificate. Code-signing practices ensure secure product development, production, and deployment. The best practices for protecting the Software Supply Chain with secure code-signing are:

Authenticate code before signing and releasing
Organizations should use streamlined code signing processes, such as CI/CD pipelines and approval processes, to prevent malicious code from being signed. After signing, the code or artifact should be authenticated and verified before being released to the users. Organizations should also maintain logs of all the code-signing processes for auditing later.
Revoke compromised certificates
To ensure code safety, revocation should be followed. Certificates that have been compromised should be revoked by the Certificate Authority; this way, the corrupted or compromised certificates cannot be used for code-signing activities.

Code Signing in Cloud-Native Environments

Code Signing is very important in deployments in cloud-native applications or DevOps. Before distributing software to users, we can sign and verify software types such as container images, application binaries, etc. In cloud-native environments, code signing is integrated with CI/CD pipelines to maintain the trust and authenticity of the software. By including code signing in cloud-native environments, organizations can prevent the risk of tampering with code that makes it malicious for distribution.

Summary

Today code signing is an essential part of the software development lifecycle. Without code signing, enterprises risk losing users and face enormous financial and reputation risks in case of malware attacks. It is therefore critical for software line managers as well as senior management to understand code signing and its importance to their organizations.

Top Code Signing Tools for 2025

As we live in the digital era, software security has become a critical concern in software development. With the increasing frequency and complexity of cybersecurity threats, developers must take proactive measures to safeguard their software and users. Digital signing using a code signing tool is an essential approach to ensure software security. By doing so, developers can add a layer of protection that verifies the authenticity and integrity of the software, preventing malicious attacks and ensuring user trust.

What is a Code Signing Tool?

A code signing tool is a software application utilized in digitally signing software code or executable files. This process involves utilizing a cryptographic algorithm to generate a digital signature of the code. The digital signature can then be verified by operating systems or other software tools to ensure the integrity and authenticity of the code.

Code signing is a fundamental security measure that guarantees the authenticity of software code by affixing the developer’s digital signature. This security measure safeguards the code from tampering or modification and prevents malware or other security threats from infiltrating the software code and causing damage to systems or networks.

Software developers and publishers typically rely on code signing tools to sign their code before distributing it to end-users. Similarly, security professionals or IT administrators can use these tools to verify the digital signatures of code to ensure its safety during installation or execution.

Examples of widely used code signing tools include Microsoft Authenticode, Java Code Signing, and Apple Code Signing. These tools necessitate a digital certificate issued by a trusted third-party certificate authority to establish trust in the digital signature and ensure that the code remains untampered.

Code Signing Tools Use Cases

Code signing tools are a critical security measure for ensuring the authenticity and integrity of software code. The following are some typical use cases for code signing tools:

Software Development

During the development process, software developers commonly use code signing tools to sign their code before distributing it to end-users. This helps ensure that the code has not been tampered with or modified since signing and provides assurance that the software is safe to use.
Code Authentication

The code signature of a software piece verifies the identity of the creator, guarding against malware such as trojans that impersonate legitimate software to gain access to a computer.
Prevention from Supply Chain Attacks

Code signing tools safeguard software from supply chain attacks by verifying its authenticity and integrity. Here are some ways in which code signing tools protect against supply chain attacks:
- Authentication
  
  Code signing tools use digital certificates to authenticate the identity of the software developer.
- Integrity and Verification
  
  Code signing tools use hash algorithms to create a unique signature for the software and verify whether the code has been corrupted.
- Revocation
  If a code signing certificate is compromised, the Certificate Authority can revoke it, rendering any software signed with it invalid.
- Operating System and Driver Updates
  
  Operating system and device driver manufacturers use code signing tools to sign their updates before releasing them to the public.

However, these benefits are contingent on the code signing process’s security. If an attacker can obtain signing keys or convince a company to sign their malicious code, it may appear legitimate to users. Thus, caution must be exercised during code signing to ensure the authenticity and integrity of the code.

Top Code Signing Tools in 2025

Code signatures are an essential security measure for verifying the authenticity and integrity of software code, and various tools are available for generating them. Here are some of the most commonly used tools for generating code signatures:

Encryption Consulting’s CodeSign Secure

CodeSign Secure offers a secure and flexible code-signing solution for all operating systems, including Windows, Linux, Macintosh, Docker, and Android/iOS apps. With this tool you can centrally manage private keys, define strict policies, monitor key usage, and delegate signing responsibilities for robust code-signing practices.

The best things about our CodeSign Secure are:

We provide proper integrity checks, which in turn ensures software authenticity and builds user trust.
Our solution is compliance with CA/Browser Forum and meets other industry standards and regulations (i.e., cryptographic keys are always stored in Hardware Security modules at all times).
Our solution prevents unauthorized code modifications, secures software distribution, and mitigates supply chain attacks.

Key Features consist of CodeSign Secure

HSM-Backed Keys
CodeSign secure requires secure hardware for key storage, i.e., FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSM compliance, to meet the CA/Browser Forum's June 1, 2023 requirement. It provides proxy-based access to HSM, safeguards private keys, ensures integrity, and establishes trust in your code signing process
Policy Enforcement with Granular Access Control
Our solution helps in customizing application-wide policies and automate key usage permission, which streamlines code signing lifecycle management.
Client-Side Integration
This feature helps enhance the performance and reduce server load for faster code signing process. Due to client-side integration, data transfer happens at minimum, and helps conserve the bandwidth while ensuring data integrity and security standards
Event Logs & Tracking
Workflows can be customized with detailed audit trails for identifying and resolving any security concerns. To prevent unauthorized access and enhance security “M of N” quorum is also provided.
Integration With CI/CD Pipeline
We provide seamless integration with various CI/CD workflows and build pipelines, compatible with popular platforms like:
- Jenkins: Automates build, test, and deployment tasks with flexible, scriptable pipelines and plugin extensibility. It supports distributed builds, a wide range of integrations, and is ideal for diverse project needs.
- Azure DevOps: Provides cloud-based pipelines for automated builds, testing, and deployments with deep Microsoft ecosystem integration. It offers built-in features like artifact storage, release management, and advanced reporting.
- GitLab: Offers integrated CI/CD pipelines with auto-scaling runners, version control, and seamless DevOps lifecycle management. It enables complete DevSecOps with tools for security scanning, container registry, and Kubernetes deployment.
- Bamboo: CI/CD server by Atlassian for automated builds, testing, and deployments with Jira integration. It supports parallel builds, deployment projects, and advanced environment configuration for continuous delivery.
- Team City: JetBrains’ CI/CD tool offering powerful build automation, test execution, and integration with version control. It features pre-tested commits, detailed build insights, and out-of-the-box support for multiple languages and frameworks.
This enhances developer productivity and user admin control.

Advantages of CodeSign Secure

FIPS 140-2 Level 3 HSM compliance to meet CA/Browser Forum's requirement.
Proxy-based access to HSM to secure private keys and ensure integrity.
Client-side hashing for high-performance, fast, and secure signing.
Secure timestamps for code signatures, supporting RFC 3161 and Authenticode standards. Flexible Multi-Format Code-Signing, including PDFs, XML, MS Authenticode, and Java (including Android and JAR signing).
Code-signing security with diverse access methods, including X.509 certificates, OAuth, basic authentication, and IP filtering.
Audited, comprehensive, and signed logs, tracking every transaction and signing actions.

Use Cases of CodeSign Secure

EC's CSP for Windows Signing (on client-side)
Digitally sign documents using keys secured in your HSM. It supports Extended Validation (EV) and Organization Validation (OV) public code signing, and private code signing. Authenticode Files Signing Supported by CodeSign Secure with Windows SignTool, Mage, Nuget, Clickonce, HLK, HCK.

File Extensions Supported by CodeSign Secure: .EXE, *.DLL, CAB, *.MSI, *.JS, *.VBS, *.PS1, *.OCX, *.SYS, *.WSF., *CAT, *.MSP, *.CPL, *.EFI, *.ARX, *.DBX, *.CRX, *.XSN, *.DEPLOY, *.XAP, and more
Docker & Container Image Signing
Digital fingerprinting to docker images while storing keys in HSM and supports Docker Notary.

Firmware Code Signing: Sign any firmware binaries to authenticate the manufacturer to avoid tampering with the firmware code.

File Extensions Supported by CodeSign Secure: .bin, .img, .hex, .fw, .dfu (device firmware upgrade file format).
OVA/OVF Code Signing
Ensure authenticity, prevent unauthorized modifications, and protect against malware with a verifiable trail of trust.

File Extensions Supported by CodeSign Secure: .ova, .ovf
EC's CSP for Apple Signing (on client-side)
Sign all your Mac OS software, tools, updates, utilities, and applications.

File Extensions Supported by CodeSign Secure: (.dmg, .ipa, .app) and Apple's ProduSign used with signing installer packages and archives (.pkg, .mpkg)
EC's CSP for Linux Signing (on client-side)
RPM package to ensure authenticity and integrity throughout the software supply chain.

File Extensions Supported by CodeSign Secure: GPG, XML, and more
Java Signing
Sign all your java code-signing certificates securely.

File Extensions Supported by CodeSign Secure: (.jar, .war, .sar, .ear) and Android (.apk) with JarSigner and APKSigner respectively.

Microsoft SignTool

Microsoft SignTool, a command-line tool included in the Windows SDK, is used to create digital signatures for executable, dynamic link library, and driver files. These digital signatures contain a hash of the file and a digital certificate issued by a trusted authority, which Windows uses to verify the file’s integrity and authenticity.

One key advantage of Microsoft SignTool is its compatibility as a command-line tool, making it easily usable for a wide range of users. Executables signed using Microsoft SignTool are also trusted by Windows, which eliminates security warnings for users during installation.

Key Features and Advantages of Microsoft SignTool

Besides signing, the signtool can also verify the existing signature and timestamp. The Timestamping feature gives the exact time when a file was signed which can be used to ensure software hasn’t been tampered with after a certain date.
Signtool can also be integrated with various development environments such as Visual Studio, allowing developers to sign directly with their IDE.
Signtool requires a specific hashing algorithm when signing, which provides better security.
Ability to sign executable, dynamic link library, and driver files.

Limitations of Microsoft SignTool

It has command line interface which can be a barrier to new users who are unfamilier with it’s syntax. It lacks GUI making it less user friendly
There is a limitation to size of the file signed by signtool, 4 GB for Portable executive file such as .exe or .sys
Managing certificate files can be challenging for some developers, as losing, or misplacing the certificate file can result in the inability to update or distribute an app.

Please find the live demo of How to Sign Code Developed in Visual Studio & Protect Certificates with Encryption Consulting’s CodeSign Secure.

JarSigner

JarSigner, included in the Java Development Kit (JDK), is a command-line tool used to sign Java Archive (JAR) files digitally. The purpose of this tool is to verify the authenticity and integrity of JAR files used for distributing Java applications and libraries.

To use jarsigner, a public-private key pair is generated using a tool such as key tool included with the JDK. The JAR file is then signed using Jar Signer, which generates a digital signature that can be verified using the public key.

The JarSigner creates a signature file, including cryptographic hashes of all contents, for the initial Jar file. The tool constructs a secondary signature file RSA using the digital signature algorithm. The two signature files and the initial file is kept in the jar file, which is extracted by the tool, JarSigner, for verification.

Key Features of Jarsigner

Generates digital signatures for JAR files using public key cryptography.
Verifies digital signatures using the signer’s public key.
Included in the Java Development Kit (JDK), making it a standard tool for Java developers.
Jarsigner interacts with keystores, allowing specific key store location, password, and alias of the key used for signing or verifying.
Jarsigner gives the option to specify hashing algorithms for signing, including timestamping.

Advantages of Jarsigner

Enhances the security of Java applications by digitally signing JAR files.
Digital signatures generated by Jar Signer can be easily verified using the signer’s public key.
Standard tool included in the JDK, making it easy for developers to use without requiring additional tools or software.
Jar files signed using valid certificates are trusted by Java platforms, eliminating security warnings or errors.
The JarSigner command line nature makes it easier for scripting and automation and it can be integrated to build CI/CD pipelines.

Limitations of jarsigner

Can be complex for some developers to use.
Compatibility issues may arise when dealing with different platforms or systems.
While JarSigner provides some options for choosing a hashing algorithm to sign, it might not support the latest ones.
JarSigner uses Java’s KeyStore for managing keys, which can be secure but also complex to configure and manage.

Please find the live demo of How to do the Jar Signing using Encryption Consulting’s Code Signing solution Code Sign Secure.

SignPath

SignPath is a codesigning procedure that offers a secure, automated, and repeatable solution for signing code in the cloud and on-premises. Development teams can define workflows that integrate well with their existing software development lifecycle. Responsibilities, tasks, alerts, and inventories of your private keys and certificates are well-documented and transparent to the InfoSec teams. It turns code signing into a controlled and repeatable process that aligns the needs of both development teams and InfoSec experts.

It provides various key features such as:

Integration with current continuous deployment (CD) pipelines using simple command line or API calls, eliminating the need to install cryptographic service providers (CSPs) or attach USB tokens.
Ease of managing certificates, defining strict policies, monitoring private key usage, and delegating responsibility for signing releases with this codesigning tool.
Unique solutions for open-source projects to establish a secure build chain for the end-user.
Signing all files within the installation package, automatically repackages the installer and signs the entire package.
Checking all artifacts you upload for malware.
It provides origin verification as it integrates with build sever allowing you to track back to the origin of your artifacts.

Despite its advantages, SignPath also has certain limitations, such as:

The cost of using SignPath can be higher compared to other codesigning tools in the market.
The reliance on SignPath’s cloud infrastructure for secure code signing can result in latency or downtime issues if the server goes down.

PrimeKey SignServer

PrimeKey SignServer is an open-source software solution that provides organizations with digital signature and public key infrastructure (PKI) services. It enables users to securely sign, verify, encrypt, and decrypt electronic documents and data and issue, manage, and revoke digital certificates. PrimeKey SignServer offers server side signing, where the keys are stored and managed on a central server.

Key Features of SignServer

Sign Server supports various digital signature formats, including PDF, XML, and OpenPGP signatures, making it highly versatile.
It is highly customizable and allows organizations to integrate it into their existing workflows and systems with ease.
The solution supports multiple use cases, including code signing, document signing, and email signing.
It can be deployed as turn-key software or hardware appliance or in the cloud.
They provide client side hashing with SignClient.

Advantages of SignServer

Sign Server provides organizations with a cost-effective solution for digital signature and PKI services.
It enables organizations to maintain control of their PKI infrastructure and avoid vendor lock-in.
The solution is highly scalable, allowing organizations to easily expand their infrastructure as needed.
It is open source, which provides transparency and the ability for users to modify and customize the software to their specific needs.
They provides high security with Two Factor Client Authentication and Authorization.

Limitations of SignServer

Implementation and configuration of Sign Server requires technical expertise and resources.
Customization and integration with existing workflows can be time-consuming and require significant development effort.
As an open-source solution, Sign Server may have less robust support and maintenance than commercial alternatives.
SignServer might need robust hardware resources to continue efficient work depending on the signing volume and chosen deployment model.

Apple Code Sign

Apple Code Signing is a security technology that provides digital signatures for software on Apple platforms, including macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS. This technology offers a range of benefits, including enhanced security, improved user experience, and developer accountability. Additionally, Apple Code Signing facilitates the distribution of software packages.

Key Features of Apple Code Sign

Digitally signs software on Apple platforms, including macOS, iOS, watchOS, and tvOS.
Provides enhanced security.
Improves user experience.
Facilitates distribution.
Enforces Sandboxing.
Helps verify the cryptographic signature of the OS and installed firmware before allowing them to load.

Advantages of Apple Code Sign

Helps ensure the authenticity and integrity of software.
Gives users greater confidence in downloading and using software.
Helps prevent malware and other security threats.
Enables easier distribution of software.
Limits app access to system resources and user data
Ensures only trusted code runs on the device.
Provides flexibility for different deployment scenarios.

Limitations of Apple Code Sign

Limited use of the Apple Code Signing tool, designed specifically for signing macOS and iOS app packages.
Cannot be used to sign other types of files, such as Android APKs or Docker images.
Sandboxing and other restrictions imposed by code signing can make it difficult to debug the signed apps.

Docker Trust Sign

Docker Trust Sign is a process that adds a digital signature to a Docker image by a trusted entity to ensure its authenticity and integrity. This establishes trust between the image publisher and consumer, with a unique cryptographic signature that guarantees the image has not been tampered with. The benefits of Docker Trust Sign include enhanced authenticity and security, compliance, and simplified deployment. However, this process has limitations, including its complexity, cost, and limited access. Additionally, managing keys and certificates for Docker Trust Sign can be a challenge.

Key Features of Docker Trust Sign

Signing Docker images ensures their authenticity and integrity, establishing trust between image publishers and consumers.
Docker images are given a unique cryptographic signature that can be verified by anyone who downloads the image.
It can be integrated into building pipelines to automate image signing, ensuring consistency.
Allows signing specific image tags or entire repositories.
The solution can invalidate signature upon detecting any tampering to the image.

Advantages of Docker Trust Sign

Improved authenticity and security of Docker images.
Enables compliance with security policies and regulations.
Simplifies deployment processes.
Creates clear audit trial, documenting who signed and when.
Can sign container images built for various architectures within a single repository which simplifies management for multi-platform deployments.

Limitations of Docker Trust Sign

Can be complex to set up and manage.
May involve additional costs, such as for obtaining and managing digital certificates.
Access to Docker Trust Sign may be limited to certain users or organizations.
Key management can present a challenge, particularly for large-scale deployments.

APK Signer

APK signer is a software tool designed to sign Android APK (Android Package) files using digital signatures. This process ensures that the file is authentic and has not been tampered with. Users can choose to self-sign APK files or obtain certificates from a certificate authority (CA) for added security.

While there are various tools available for signing APK files, including command-line tools and integrated development environments, APK signer is a popular choice due to its simple graphical interface and cross-platform compatibility.

Key Features of APK Signer

APK signer is a tool to sign Android APK files with digital signatures.
Different signing tools are available, such as the Android Studio IDE or command-line tools like the JDK’s jarsigner tool.
APK signer provides a simple graphical interface and can be used on any platform that supports Java.
APK signer allows flexibility in signing customizing signing needs such as hashing algorithms, inclusion of a timestamp.
APK Signer can integrate with a development environment like Android Studio, allowing developers to seamlessly sign their APKs directly.

Advantages of APK Signer

Authenticity: APK signer adds a digital signature to the APK file, which verifies its authenticity.
Integrity: The digital signature added by APK signer ensures that the APK file has not been tampered with or altered.
Security: Signing an APK file with APK signer enhances the security of the app.
Compatibility: APK signer can be used on any platform that supports Java, making it a widely accessible tool.

Limitations of APK Signer

Complexity: APK signing can be a complex process, and APK signer may require some technical knowledge to use.
KeyStore Management: Users must manage their KeyStore carefully to prevent misuse or unauthorized access.
Risk of being misused: Like any tool, APK signer could be misused if used by malicious individuals to sign and distribute malware or harmful apps.

These are just a few examples of tools for generating code signatures. The choice of tool will depend on the specific requirements of the code being signed and the target platform or ecosystem.

To learn more about Encryption Consulting’s Code Signing Tool, visit our CodeSigning Solution

Conclusion

To sum up, code signing plays a vital role in software security to safeguard it against tampering and malicious attacks. The code signing tools discussed in this article are some of the most trusted and widely-used solutions available today. They come with a range of key features and advantages, such as seamless integration with existing development processes, robust authentication and encryption, and flexible pricing plans. Selecting the most suitable code signing tool for your organization will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

Code Signing in DevOps

DevOps

DevOps, in very simple words, is a combination of Development (Dev) and Operation (Ops) to enhance software’s speed, security, and development. The DevOps practice enables the development team to accelerate the development process through continuous integration, automation, and collaboration, making the building process more iterative. DevOps aims to shorten the software development process and achieve continuous delivery.

The efficient development circling DevOps principles helps organizations better understand their customer needs and compete effectively in the market. One of the biggest cloud computing and e-commerce organizations in the world, Amazon, implemented DevOps to improve its infrastructure management. The company started using automation tools like AWS CloudFormation and AWS Elastic Beanstalk to make the process of resource provisioning and scaling easier.

While speed and efficiency are essential factors in software development, product security shouldn’t be an afterthought. When code signing is integrated into a DevOps pipeline, it adds a layer of security and trust among users as it helps to confirm the integrity of the software packages and ensuring its authenticity.

Making strong security a priority initially reduces the need to have recovery measures later in the development cycle. This frees up resources which can be used for other essential operations. If there is weak security, automating the development process can be risky as processes or scripts can have vulnerabilities in it which could be easily exploited by attackers.

Code Signing

Code signing is when a developer digitally signs software packages, executable files, or scripts with a cryptographic signature. This signature is used as proof that the software hasn’t been tampered with. The identity of the software author or publisher can be confirmed by attaching a digital signature to a software binary or file.

Cryptographic signatures work the same way as the digital fingerprint of information. A private key is used by the sender to provide a unique signature for an artifact. The authenticity of an artifact can be verified by any individual using the public key which was used for signing. This helps to ensure authenticity. There are several different files and software available on the internet that can be easily downloaded.

Anyone can project themselves as legitimate to plant malware. With the help of code signing, mishaps caused by injected malware can easily be avoided. Even operating systems nowadays check for digital certificates/signatures. They prompt an alert when those are not found, making signing of an artifact necessary.

Where does codesigning fit into the DevOps process?

The DevOps process emphasizes the automation of software development with continuous integration and continuous development, better known as CI/CD. Rapid software development and deployment done via DevOps increases productivity, but it can also impose security risks.

Code signing should be integrated as an important practice in DevOps. This helps ensure the authenticity of the software used by users. DevOps also helps in the tamper-proof deployment of software as it moves through stages of development such as testing and deployment. Signing codes can also build user trust as it helps meet certain standards set by the industry.

Code signing is usually done during the build, release, and deployment stage of software development. Once the code is packaged into an executable artifact, such as a container image or installer, the package is digitally signed.

Any further changes made to the signed package will invalidate the signature. Code signing and DevOps can go hand in hand for secure and fast software delivery. While code signing helps verify software’s authenticity, DevOps helps automate the entire process. Addition of code signing in a DevOps pipeline ensures there is consistent signing throughout development. Teamwork improves when teams share trust in signed code.

Signed artifacts allow rapid deployment without compromising security and assure continuous delivery. This approach of signing code fits seamlessly into DevOps automation. This is accomplished by making use of the CI/CD pipeline. DevOps can also provide improved security by shifting towards DevSecOps.

Code signing is usually done towards the end of software development, but considering such security aspects from the initial stage is what DevSecOps is. Introducing code signing in the coding, building, and testing stages can help secure all artifacts, such as source code, dependencies, libraries, and tools used in the pipeline.

It gives end users or customers the confidence that only trusted and unaltered artifacts are being used, reducing the risk of potential tampering. Organizations can also rest assured that the artifact is secure through all the stages of the DevOps pipeline. Malicious code was injected into SolarWinds’ Orion monitoring platform through an advanced cyberattack.

If code signing had been done, a compromised SolarWinds software update, lacking a valid signature from the legitimate source (SolarWinds), would have triggered an alert in the pipeline. The alert could halt the deployment, leading to an investigation and preventing malicious code from reaching production.

Best Practices for Integrating Code Signing into DevOps Pipelines

Key Management
Strong key management procedures are needed to protect the private keys used for code signing. These private keys must be stored securely and restricted only to authorized persons. Access control and encryption should be implemented to protect the signing keys from improper and unwanted use. “Security is a chain, only as strong as its weakest link.” It is crucial to store and access keys for secure key management.

If an attacker gets hold of a private keys used for signing, they can potentially compromise the signed data. This could be disastrous, as they can pose as legitimate software developers to spread malicious content. Key management aims to mitigate this risk by focusing on the secure generation, storage, distribution, and revocation of cryptographic keys.
Timestamping
To avoid certificate expiration-related problems, time stamping should be added to code signing. Time stamping offers assurance of code integrity and authenticity as it ensures that the signed code is valid even after the signing certificate expires. With the help of a timestamp, the signed code can be verified even if the signing keys get compromised. A timestamp securely binds a signature to a specific time, creating a verifiable record of who signed the code and when emphasizing accountability throughout the development lifecycle.
Certificate Revocation
Procedures should be developed to revoke signing certificates that get hacked quickly. Organizations must have procedures and plans ready for the revocation of compromised certificates. Those compromised certificates should be replaced with new ones. These plans and procedures occur during a security breach or when signing keys get compromised. Revocation of compromised certificates helps reduce the possibility of malicious operators signing software with those certificates.

“The security of any system relies on the integrity of its components.” Certificate revocation done promptly can prevent certificates from being misused. If a certificate is stolen or falls into the wrong hands, it can be misused to fake signatures and spread malicious malware posing as valid. Revocation enables authorities to invalidate compromised certificates, restricting their usage for signing.
Policy Enforcement
For code signing procedures, a list of detailed rules and regulations must be set and implemented systematically throughout development and deployment. In those policies, specific instructions for code signing should be defined. Policies can include regulations about necessary signatures, timestamping, approved certificate authorities, and criteria for validation. It is important to ensure all the artifacts deployed follow the set security rules by enforcing policy compliance.

“Policy is what guides an organization’s security efforts.” Policy enforcement makes sure of consistent signing practices, reducing human error. Overall, policy enforcement ensures that only authorized entities can sign an entity. This prevents malicious code from entering the software supply chain and safeguards the integrity of deployed software.
Automation Signing
Automated tools and procedures can be used in software development’s deployment and development stage to sign the code. Automatiing of tasks and functions can lower the possibility of human error and can ensure that everything is signed consistently with proper keys. This creates efficiency as the process speeds up. Imposing security doesn’t happen magically. It is a systematic approach.

Automating the signing process streamlines the DevSecOps and reduces manual error. Automation signing addresses the security concern of human error. By automating the signing process within the DevOps pipeline, it eliminates the possibility of developers forgetting to sign code or using the wrong key. This ensures consistent signing and reliable code verification.

How does CodeSign Secure integrate with DevOps?

Encryption Consulting’s, CodeSign Secure integrates with DevOps, using CI/CD pipelines on various platforms such as Azure DevOps, GitHub Actions, Gitlab, and Jenkins. The integration of our signing solution with these platforms is seamless and easy. We integrate with DevOps CI/CD to create an automated signing process.

With CodeSign Secure, you can sign your builds as you go. The solution requires HSM to adhere to FIPS 140-2 Level 3 compliance, ensuring all the keys and certificates you use for signing are stored securely. We do client-side hashing, which ensures high availability and maximum performance. With this, fast and secure signing is done without uploading large files to the server.

Once we are set with secure key management and have set policies, we integrate with CI/CD pipelines to automate the signing. If a user wants to use Jenkins, it is set up in the client environment, and a build process is created.

For pipelines like GitHub Actions or Azure DevOps, we set up a runner machine to run the build process. After the initial setup with the preferred pipeline, users can add the code signing process in their build script to automate the process. Integration with any CI/CD pipeline is well-documented and can be done easily.

The runners that will be set up for performing signing will have to be authenticated first, and that will be done by certificate authentication. Users also need to generate an API key token using CodeSignSecure’s website to make API calls. This ensures that only authorized individuals carry out the signing operation on these runner machines. This is where setting policies comes into play.

We also offer build verification, which can verify whether your build has been tampered with, hence providing more robust security. We provide all that you need for robust code signing. Given our compatibility with the popular DevOps platform, enhancing developer productivity and efficient software development process isn’t much of a hassle.

The deployment of our solution is scalable, be it on-premise or, on cloud or as SAAS. We support a number of file extensions to sign, such as *.dll, cab, *.msi, *.js, *.vbs, *.ps1, *.ocx, *.sys, *.wsf, and many more.

Conclusion

Code signing is one of the most crucial components of the DevOps pipeline. By integrating code signing into your CI/CD process, the overall security and integrity of the software developed can be enhanced. This can help build user trust and meet compliance requirements. Following the best practices of code signing can achieve a robust and secure code-signing process. Integrating code signing in the DevOps platform is not just best practice but essential to creating a secure product.

Remember, code signing isn’t just about protecting code from tampering or misuse—it’s about protecting your entire software ecosystem. To know more about our service, reach out to us at [email protected]

The Essentials of Code-Signing Policies

Software supply chains are occasionally targeted, putting organizations at a serious risk. To protect these software supply chains, it is highly recommended to use code-signing. By using code-signing, an attacker or an unauthorized user will not be able to release or deploy the code for end-users or customers.

This is where code-signing guidelines come into the picture. These guidelines are very important for maintaining the software’s security and integrity. The guidelines of an organization are based on many different rules and standards, which are known as code-signing policies.

Importance of Code-Signing Policy

Code-signing policies are the rules or regulatory guidelines that govern the way code-signing is supposed to be implemented in an organization. These policies are mainly concerned with generating digital signatures for code or software and then verifying them before distribution. These policies ensure that only authorized code is executed on the systems, which prevents malware from being installed.

Security Assurance
Code-signing policies are used to successfully verify the authenticity of different types of software artifacts. If a digital signature is attached to code, unwanted modifications can be avoided, which will lead to establishing trust in organizations. This is very helpful in software distribution to end-users.
Risk Mitigation
Various attacks like malware injection and supply chain attacks can be prevented by an organization by maintaining a strict code-signing policy. A strict and detailed policy will help prevent these risks and increase overall security measures.
Trust and Reputation
Code-signing attaches a signature to code, which acts as proof that the software that was delivered to the customer originated from a trusted source. This also gives trust that the software has not been tampered with during transit.
Compliance Requirements
To ensure software integrity and authenticity, many regulatory frameworks have made code-signing mandatory. These policies enable organizations to meet the requirements and comply with proper and necessary regulations.

Best Practices for Creating a Code-Signing Policy

Every organization needs to follow strict code-signing regulations to ensure the integrity and authenticity of their software. These are a few best practices for code-signing policies:

Understanding organizational needs
Planning and mapping out the specific requirements of an organization’s code-signing needs is a very crucial first step. This will show how code-signing depends on various factors like – the type of software to be signed, regulatory compliance, security protocols, etc. After proper and detailed understanding, one should draft the appropriate code-signing policy for one’s organization.
Keeping the policy simple but comprehensive
It is important to keep your code-signing policies simple and clear. But that does not mean one shouldn’t cover all the necessary steps. Unnecessary complexities should be avoided, and a clear definition of roles and permissions should be provided based on the requirements. Developers are likely to successfully implement simple and easy-to-understand policies.
Regular Updates and Review policies
With newer threats emerging every day, security measures need to be updated too. Regular updates and reviews of the code-signing policies should be mandatory, along with regular assessments. One should keep themselves updated to ensure the code-signing policy they drafted remains effective and relevant.

Key Components of a Code-Signing Policy

An effective code-signing policy should include the following guidelines:

Key Issuance
A robust control system must exist to determine which users can issue keys, manage the key’s types and attributes, and when to issue them. Only a user with an appropriate role can perform these tasks, which helps avoid issuing new keys with weaker algorithms.
Key Management
A separate rule should be created to manage a user’s roles and the permissions to manage the keys. This procedure should also include location tracking for all the keys.
Key Storage
Cryptographic or private code-signing keys must be protected. After CA/B Forum’s June 2023 requirements, all code-signing private keys must be stored in a FIPS 140-2 Level 2 (or higher) HSM. Developers should have limited access to these private keys.
Key Usage
The right people are responsible for using private keys appropriately at the right time. How these keys are used is a critical factor in code-signing procedures.
Prevent Key Sharing
Private keys should never be removed from the HSMs, and developers should never share keys inside internal servers, systems, or networks. Each key should be uniquely issued, and only a few Administrator users should have READ permission for these keys.
Continuous Signing
Implementing continuous Signing in every CI/CD pipeline is paramount. This ensures that code security is consistently and appropriately maintained based on the individual’s role.

Conclusion

Every organization needs a strong and strict code-signing policy for software integrity and authenticity. Encryption Consulting offers expert guidance in developing custom-made code-signing policies. With our cybersecurity expertise and hands-on approach, we help organizations navigate the complexities of policy development and implementation and ensure compliance.

Trust starts with code signing. Let Encryption Consulting be your partner in fortifying that trust. Contact us today to learn how we can help you create robust code-signing policies tailored to your organization’s needs.

Navigating Risks in Active Directory Certificate Services (ADCS)

In an era where data breaches and cyber-attacks are the norm, it is very important to secure sensitive information. Active Directory Certificate Services among network infrastructures are essential for managing digital certificates within organizations. Even so, like any other technology, ADCS is not risk-free. To manage these risks effectively requires understanding them comprehensively and developing proactive ways of dealing with them. 

ADCS plays a major role in setting up and managing Public Key Infrastructures (PKIs) that ensure secure communication, authentication, and encryption across networks. In addition to guaranteeing the authenticity and integrity of data transmissions, it issues, revokes, and manages digital certificates. 

Digital certificates act as electronic identities by binding cryptographic keys to entities like users, devices, or services; for this reason, they are used to authenticate users and devices, encrypt sensitive information, and establish secure communication channels through networks. 

ADCS and certificate abuse

To gain access to critical systems and data, opponents may make use of certificates. They can create rogue certificates, issue unauthorized ones and utilize valid certificates for malicious intentions, among other forms.
The following are some implications of certificate abuse:

Identity theft

Legitimate persons or organizations can be impersonated by attackers by forging digital certificates. They may deceive users, devices or services into trusting malicious actors by creating fake records that contain incorrect details thus leading to identity theft as well as unauthorized access to sensitive information or resources. 

Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks

An attacker who abuses certificates can intercept any communication between two parties, impersonating either end of the channel. The attacker is able to achieve this by presenting phony certificates to both sides involved, hence they may get hold of private data while in transit. Such criminals may intercept data transmission and steal authentication credentials which they may later use for identity theft or illegally accessing accounts/services .

Phishing Attacks

Fraudulent certificates can be used by attackers to create emails or fake websites that may seem genuine to uninitiated people. Such attacks are designed to steal sensitive data from users or cause them to download malware onto their machines.

Code Signing Abuse

Attackers might obtain illegal code signing certificates for malicious software. This is done so that signed malware may bypass traditional security controls and appear reputable to users and security programs.

Domain escalation

Privileges can be escalated within ADCS by attackers by exploiting permissions  and access controls. For example, an attacker with administrative interfaces of ADCS or service accounts may use misconfigurations or weak access controls to raise their rights level, gaining broader entry into resources available through ADCS.

Mitigation Strategies

Organizations can take the following measures to mitigate the risks of certificate abuse in ADCS environments:

Strengthening Certificate Lifecycle Management

Having processes, such as secure issuance, renewal, and revocation procedures, for managing the lifecycle of digital certificates can help mitigate risks. Carry out regular audits on certificate activity to detect any abnormality that may suggest possible abuse and respond accordingly.

Boosting Security Controls

Strict access controls should be implemented for certificate issuance and management systems. Ensure multi-factor authentication is used with least privilege principles while restricting entry into sensitive ADCS parts, reducing chances of illegal certificate release. Apply RBAC to limit AD CS functions and administrative tasks executed based on user roles and responsibilities.

Only grant permissions and privileges are required for authorized staff who need access rights to manage certificates and CA operations. This will help minimize insider threats against AD CS configuration by unauthorized persons’ manipulation. 

Harden ADCS Configuration

ADCS settings should be in accordance with the best practices of the industry and security standards. One should keep AD CS servers updated with the latest software updates and security patches to fix known vulnerabilities to ensure no areas are left open for possible attackers.

Frequently survey Microsoft as well as other vendor updates and apply patches immediately so as to deal with any security issues or weak points. Over time, patch management becomes essential for maintaining the safety and soundness of an ADCS infrastructure.

Monitor for anomalies

Create monitoring systems that will help detect unauthorized modifications or any security breach by tracking changes made on AD CS configuration settings. Check CA logs, event logs, configuration changes against baseline configurations looking for anything that can be termed unusual activity within or deviations from normalcy. Carry out periodic reviews on security measures adopted and establish alerts besides automating responses aimed at detecting potential attacks promptly while still mitigating their effects. 

Conclusion

ADCS is important because it allows secure communication and authentication in Active Directory environments. Nevertheless, the misuse of digital certificates can endanger organizational security and trust. Understanding these risks and following best practices will lead to a safe and reliable PKI environment. Cyber threats constantly change; therefore, regular reviews on AD CS configuration with security standards will ensure protection against them.

How can Encryption Consulting help?

Certificate lifecycle management is made easier through Encryption Consulting’s CertSecure Manager and PKI-related services. We also provide PKI-as-a-Service, simplifying PKI management for your organization. These services also enable organizations to steer clear of ADCS hazards by providing complete certificate lifecycle management.

This is done through thorough training on how to secure different systems within an organization, conducting risk assessments, and ensuring all implementations are secure. We design and implement bespoke PKI architectures, ensuring seamless integration with other security solutions and enterprise applications.

We provide comprehensive PKI design and implementation services for both existing and new PKI infrastructures. Our on-premises solutions include Microsoft PKI, while our cloud-based PKI solutions utilize leading cloud service providers such as AWS Certificate Manager, AWS Certificate Manager Private CA (ACM-PCA), Azure PKI, and Google Cloud Certificate Authority Manager.

With the expertise offered by Encryption Consulting and its solutions, one can greatly improve security aspects related to their ADCS infrastructure while effectively reducing risks associated with certificate management.

New Risks to Post-Quantum Kyber KEM: What are Timing Attacks and how do they threaten Encryption?

Quantum-resistant cryptography, Kyber Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM), is a promising candidate that can provide strong Quantum protection against quantum attacks Using a lattice-based approach, Kyber KEM offers strong security in terms of quantum adversaries while maintaining improved performance in practical applications.

It offers promise, but amid optimism about Kyber KEM’s resilience to quantum threats, another concern has emerged: time attack. Post-quantum cryptography aims to seamlessly integrate with current networks and networks to create cryptographic systems that are secure against quantum-classical computers.

Timing attacks, a class of side-channel attacks, test how long the computer takes to process information. Even something as simple as that could reveal clues to the secret key used by Kyber KEM, a new system designed to keep our data safe from powerful quantum computers, ensuring the future security of Kyber KEM (or similar quantum cryptography) involves continuously reducing the time required for potential attacks to comprehend it.

Timing attack

Side-channel attacks in cryptography take benefit of random activities at some point of cryptographic operation. These leaks can do things like:

Time: Time required for this system to run.
Power intake: The amount of energy ate up via a device for the duration of the calculation.
Electromagnetic emission: Small electric indicators emitted by using a device.

Timing attacks in most cases consciousness on timing in cryptographic packages. Every pc software takes a while, and in cryptography these operations can occasionally be stricken by the statistics being generated. This manner that the processing time can be slightly quicker or slower depending at the particular parameters concerned.

In a timing attack, the attacker makes use of information from the application’s cryptographic characteristic. This exposure is not to the real statistics however to the software runtime.

The attacker works by presenting diverse records to the software, tracking usage time, and statistically reading these facts to obtain relevant statistics.

An example of a time attack might be an attacker the usage of a susceptible internet utility to extract touchy records, including usernames or credit score card numbers.

The attacker sends multiple requests to the internet software, every with slightly special parameters or payloads.
The attacker watches the server response time and reveals that some requests take longer to method than others.
A long response time shows that the server is acting extra paintings or verifying that precise request.
The attacker will continue to ship the same request while making plans to trade the parameters unless an instance that fits the appropriate reaction time and statistics is chosen.

Using this information, an attacker could exploit the vulnerability to remove sensitive data processed by the server.

Why are timing attacks a concern?

Time attacks are dangerous because they can be very subtle. The difference in execution time can be incredibly small, so the attacker must repeat the operation several times and mathematically analyze the encrypted data but only if the cryptographic implementation is not designed to resist time attack, the attacker can steal the private key and other sensitive information that was available at the time.

How Timing Attack Works

Timing attacks use random information during cryptographic operation. They focus on the time it takes for a program to perform a specific task. Here’s the basic idea:

Poor implementation: Some cryptographic algorithms are implemented in such a way that execution time can have an impact on the data being processed. This can be caused by things like branch statements or cache hits.
Attacker’s strategy: the attacker sends various inputs (such as various password guesses) to the system and carefully measures how long it takes the system to respond to each attempt
Statistical analysis: By repeating this process several times and statistically analyzing the collected data, the attacker should be able to identify patterns in temporal variation These systems can reveal clues about private keys or other important information.

Why is this relevant to Kyber KEM?

Kyber KEM is a promising quantum background cryptography framework. While it provides strong protection against powerful quantum computers, it is still vulnerable to certain attack methods, such as time attacks.

The private key can affect the mathematical operations used in Kyber KEM. This means that a sophisticated attacker can exploit the time variation of the decryption process to recover the private key. When the key used in the Kyber KEM is attacked. Instead of listening for recordings as the connection progresses, the attacker listens for subtle changes in processing speed based on the secret key.

Kyber KEM: Kyber is a Key Encapsulation Method (KEM)

Kyber KEM, a promising post-quantum cryptography system designed to resist attacks from powerful quantum computers, encountered a vulnerability known as KyberSlash These flaws affect many Kyber KEM applications, including those that industry including using popular ones like Mullvad VPN and Signal Messenger. The issue arises in how Kyber handles department functions during decryption. These transactions can take a little longer depending on the type of private key being used.

By carefully measuring this time shift, attackers can use KyberSlash to recover private keys, rendering the encryption useless. This highlights the importance of continuous research and development in cryptography, even for supposedly secure systems like Kyber KEM.

The Kyber Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM) is a cryptographic technique designed to securely exchange private keys between parties in a network. It is specially designed to resist attacks from classical quantum computers.

The Vulnerability:

While robust towards direct assaults, Kyber KEM, like many cryptographic structures, is predicated on unique mathematical operations in its decryption manner
The hassle arises while the time it takes to carry out these operations may be suffering from the precise values of the account, particularly the ones for personal keys.
This way that processing time may be barely faster or slower relying on which Kyber KEM functions the non-public key uses.

How Attackers Exploit Kyber KEM:

A skilled attacker can take advantage of this vulnerability by using connecting diverse gadgets to the system and punctiliously measuring the reaction times.
By statistically reading this statistics, the attacker may also be capable of put together the private key utilized by Kyber KEM.
Imagine that you are trying to disassemble a verbal exchange tool. The onslaught of time averted direct disclosure of individual numbers. However, it could inform an attacker how quick the decryption gadget responds to their tries depending on whether they’re approaching the suitable connection.

Why should we mitigate timing attacks?

We want to lower timing assaults for plenty motives, especially as regards to securing effective cryptographic structures like Kyber KEM:

Compromised Safety
Timing assaults, even though subtle, can screen sensitive data which includes non-public keys. If an attacker manages to take advantage of the temporal flexibility of Kyber KEM’s decryption technique, they will basically advantage access to the complete encryption method, rendering it vain. This can cause extreme problems in defensive sensitive transmission information.
Silent Threats
Unlike brute force assaults, which could improve alarms, time attacks are covert. Unintentional leaks are used sooner or later of everyday operation, making detection hard. This messes up the device with out everyone noticing.
Widespread Impact
Time assaults aren’t constrained to Kyber KEM. Cryptographic systems that rely upon specific mathematical operations are compromised. Reducing time attacks allows enhance the overall protection environment for cryptography.
Future-proofing Safety
Quantum pc structures appreciably compromise current-day-day encryption strategies. Kyber KEM is designed to cope with this thru providing quantum outside safety. However, its effectiveness can be hampered if it remains vulnerable to assault with the resource of time. Mitigating those assaults ensures the long-term safety of Kyber KEM as we transition proper into a quantum future.

How do we mitigate the timing attack?

Here are some number one techniques to mitigate timing attacks and shield Kyber KEM:

Time manipulate
This is the primary protection. Cryptographic libraries and Kyber KEM implementations need to be designed to resist temporal leaks. This includes ensuring a everlasting timeout in desire to private keys.
Randomness
Introducing randomness into cryptographic operations can similarly masks temporal variability and make it tough to put into effect. This can be performed thru:
- Random padding
  Adding random facts earlier than the input is processed can masks the real records getting used and prevent attackers from preserving aside the effect of a non-public key throughout processing.
- Random branching
  Instead of deterministic branching statements (if-else) that may have barely distinctive processing times depending on the input, introduce randomness to pick which branch to execute first This enables cast off the temporal variability related to specific branches a number of the is removed.
Safe Coding Practices
Developers need to apprehend even as it is able to interfere and code Kyber KEM implementations with security in thoughts. This consists of strategies that may introduce random time changes primarily based at the private key.
Hardware-based protection features
Sometimes special hardware designed to face up to factor channel attacks may be used. These hardware answers can offer extra safety towards timing attacks thru software program program-based mitigation techniques.
Research and evaluation
While no longer an ideal answer, enforcing a monitoring system that may perceive suspicious patterns all through execution can help find out capability timing assaults this lets in a few aspect fast is determined.

Conclusion

In end, timing assaults severely threaten the Post-Quantum Kyber Key Encapsulation Mechanism (KEM) and exceptional cryptographic schemes. These assaults use diffused changes in processing time to guess touchy records, probably compromising the safety of encrypted information.

The vulnerability posed with the useful resource of time assaults highlights the significance of imposing strong safety functions to combat such threats. Techniques which incorporates time-saving implementation, randomization strategies, stable code practices, and hardware-based totally safety can assist pork up cryptographic structures against time attacks

Furthermore, continuous surveillance and surveillance is vital to discover capacity attacks in time and reply straight away. By addressing those vulnerabilities and imposing powerful mitigation strategies, we can shield cryptographic structures which includes Kyber KEM and keep the integrity and confidentiality of our encrypted communications inside the Nineties, in particular inside the face of evolving threats along side quantum computing and advanced adversaries.

Top 10 Supply Chain Attacks that Shook the World

Did you know that between 2019 and 2022, software supply chain attacks skyrocketed by an astounding 742%?

The surge in supply chain attacks is not hypothetical; alarming statistics support this new amount of attacks. Relying on open-source components and third-party software, while crucial for reduced development times and operational agility, introduces significant risks.

Due to this dependency on external code, on different applications, and by multiple organizations, an attack on a base library can quickly escalate into thousands of vulnerable software stacks.

Supply chain attacks can be considered a sophisticated form of cyber threat. They target the intricate network of relationships between an organization and its vendors, suppliers, and third-party service providers. Due to the interconnected digital supply chains, which often span multiple organizations, geographies, and systems, these attacks exploit loopholes.

The Attacks

According to a report, the number of documented supply chain attacks involving malicious third-party components burgeoned by 633% within a year, amounting to over 88,000 known instances.

Attack techniques have largely diversified, with typosquatting, dependency confusion, protestware, and malicious code injection introducing new challenges and considerations for cybersecurity specialists. Here, we will explore the latest supply chain attacks that had massive ramifications.

Discord Bot Platform Attack (March 2024)

The Top.gg bot community of Discord, with over 170,000 members, has been impacted by a supply chain attack aimed at infecting developers with malware that steals sensitive information. Over the years, the threat actor has used several tactics, procedures, and techniques, including hijacking GitHub accounts, distributing malicious Python packages, using a fake Python infrastructure, and social engineering. Top.gg was infected by an information-stealing malware after downloading a malicious clone of a tool known as Colorama.
Okta Supply Chain Attack (October 2023)

Okta, an authentication and identity management service provider, reported in October 2023 that threat actors could access private consumer data by obtaining credentials to its customer support management system. In recent support cases, the attackers could view files uploaded by specific customers.
JetBrains Supply Chain Attack (September/October 2023)

In December, government officials warned that the Solarwind attackers were exploiting a critical vulnerability in JetBrains TeamCity servers. The critical authentication bypass vulnerability raised attention due to its potential impact and high severity.

Unauthenticated intruders with HTTP(S) access can exploit this flaw to gain administrative control of affected servers and execute remote code, presenting a potential vector for supply chain attacks. This attack was carried out by a Russian threat actor named Cozy Bear, who is linked to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR RF).

In the attack, threat actors gained admin access to the server and employed remote code execution. No user interaction was needed while many large software organizations were using TeamCity servers for their CI/CD, with over 3,000 directly exposed.
MOVEit Supply Chain Attack (June 2023)

In June, the MOVEit supply chain attack was executed, targeting users of the MOVEit Transfer tool, owned by the US organization Progress Software. MOVEit is designed to transfer sensitive files in a secure manner, and it is popular in the US. The ransomware group Cl0p has been associated with the attack.

The attackers used EWIs (Exposed Web Interfaces) to cause significant damage. The web-facing MOVEit app was infected with a web shell called LEMURLOOT, which was then used to steal data from MOVEit transfer databases.
3CX Supply Chain Attack (March 2023)

n March, the 3CX attack targeted macOS and Windows Desktop applications, raising concern about the security and integrity of the software’s supply chain. The cyber criminals compromised the application using an infected library file, which subsequently downloaded an encrypted file containing command-and-control information. This enabled the attackers to execute malicious activities within the victim’s environment.
Microsoft Supply Chain Attack (February 2023)

In February 2023, a software supply chain attack also affected Microsoft. The attack exploited a vulnerability in the Jfrog Artifactory, a binary repository manager that Microsoft uses to distribute and store its software components.

The attackers accessed Jfrog Artifactory and injected malicious code into some of Microsoft’s software components, allowing them to access Microsoft’s network while stealing source code and other confidential information.
Norton Supply Chain Attack (May 2023)

Norton’s most notable software is its antivirus, which is widely used. They were also attacked in May 2023. The attack used a zero-day vulnerability in MOVEit transfer, an MFT(Managed File Transfer) software that Norton’s parent company utilizes to transfer files between consumers and offices. The attackers accessed Norton’s network and stole employees’ personal information and specific details. The attackers also threatened to release the stolen data if Norton didn’t pay a ransom.
Airbus Supply Chain Attack (January 2023)

Airbus was also attacked in January 2023 by a threat actor known as USDoD. The organization confirmed that the attack had been carried out through a compromised employee account at Turkish Airlines, one of Airbus’s consumers. The threat actor could access the employee’s account and gain access to Airbus’s systems.

The data breached included personal information associated with over 3000 Airbus vendors, such as Rockwell Collins and the Thales Group. The data dump included names, phone numbers, and email addresses.
SolarWinds (Late 2020)

In late 2020, SolarWinds provided software that contained malware that was intended together with sensitive information wherever it was installed. Customers had complete confidence in the signed software they received, and they believed that it was free of malicious code and viruses as it had not been modified since SolarWinds signed, built, and delivered it to them.

However, attackers placed the Sunspot malware into the Orion IT monitoring system and management software utilized by SolarWinds. SolarWinds digitally signed the resultant, which was then utilized to infiltrate over 18,000 private commercial consumers and the government.

The malware gathered information from the infected networks and sent data to a remote server. Cozy Bear was again responsible for this attack, which is connected to the Russian Foreign Intelligence Service (SVR).
ShadowHammer/ASUS (2019)

In 2019, Taiwanese computer manufacturers fell victim to attackers who found critical code signing keys on their web update server. The intruders added malware to legitimate ASUS updates, signed with ASUS’s code signing keys, infecting 1 million ASUS computers.

The ShadowHammer attacks happened over a period of 6 months. They impacted ASUS notebook customers who enabled the Live Update feature, a utility that automatically searches for and installs new firmware and software updates from ASUS.

Recent Trends in Code Signing Attacks

Code signing or supply chain attacks have recently witnessed notable trends as attackers continually evolve their tactics. Understanding these trends can enable organizations to stay vigilant and implement effective security measures.

Supply Chain Poisoning

Cybercriminals have increasingly targeted the software supply chain by injecting malicious codes into legitimate software packages during the distribution or build. This poisoning technique allows them to bypass conventional security courses and distribute compromised software to users.
Certificate Abuse and Forgery

Attackers have exploited vulnerabilities in the certificate infrastructure to forge and abuse code-signing certificates. They either steal legitimate certificates from developers or are responsible for creating fraudulent certificates that appear authentic. These tactics enable them to sign malicious software and deceive users into believing it is from an authentic source.
Targeted Attacks on High-Value Software

Cybercriminals have shifted their focus towards high-value software targets, such as widely used Oss, critical infrastructure software, or enterprise applications. Compromising the code signing procedure for such software can have ramifications, allowing intruders to infiltrate numerous organizations and cause significant damage.

Financial and Recovery Time Implications of Supply Chain Attacks

While the total costs of these data breaches are hard to pinpoint, we certainly know that data breaches are costly. These supply chain attacks and corresponding data breaches cost 4.45 million USD. However, we have seen recent breaches with estimated costs, which may tilt that scale in the future.

The direct costs of data breaches include remediation efforts and investigations, regulatory fines, litigation, forensic audits, bank reimbursement demands, legal settlements, customer service costs, and damage control measures.

Lengthy recovery times also impact the total cost of a data breach. A major healthcare provider can certainly feel this pain as their data breach’s recovery time lingers. The cost of catching up would continue to grow in the aftermath of the data breach. That is the reason why it is crucial to only allow the execution of approved code across your organization.

How can Code-Signing be Leveraged to Protect Organizations from These Threats?

Origin Verification

Origin verification in codesigning can be considered a security measure that ensures the code originates from an authentic source before it is signed and distributed. It comprises details regarding the source repository and its validating components, such as build information, commit, and branch.

This procedure helps reduce the risks of unauthorized access to malicious codes or code modifications. This is responsible for offering an extra layer of security and trust in the software distribution and development process.

This feature is designed to be used in environments that require high security and need to maintain compliance standards, ensuring safety for both end-users and developers.
Reproducible Build

Reproducible builds, a fundamental concept in modern software development, ensure application builds’ security, consistency, and reliability. With reproducible builds, any attempt to modify the application’s code can easily be detected, providing robust protection against malicious attacks while ensuring the integrity of the app development solution.
Build Verification

Build verification tests (BVT) run on every new build to check its stability and readiness for further testing. It consists of test cases that validate the software build’s core features. Any build that fails BVT is rejected and returned to the developers for resolution.

BVT enables the mitigation of risks associated with the behavior of the system. It identifies potential risks such as data loss, security vulnerabilities, or incorrect functionality by addressing and validating the expected behavior before the system gets deployed to production.

Why Trust CodeSign Secure to Avoid These Attacks?

There are several reasons why you should opt for CodeSign Secure for performing your codesigning operations:

CodeSign Secure helps consumers stay ahead of the curve by providing a secure codesigning solution with tamper-proof key storage, complete control, and visibility into codesigning activities.
The private keys of the codesigning certificate can be stored in an HSM, eliminating the risk of corrupted, misused, or stolen keys.
Client-side hashing ensures build performance while avoiding unnecessary movement of files, providing greater security.
It also provides seamless authentication via client-side hashing, device authentication, multi-factor authentication, multi-tier approver workflows, and more.
Support for InfoSec policies to improve solution adoption while enabling different business teams to have their own workflow for codesigning.
It is also embedded with a state-of-the-art client-side hash signing mechanism, resulting in less data traveling over the network. This makes it a highly efficient codesigning system for the complex cryptographic operations occurring in the HSM.

Conclusion

As we have explored the ten most impactful supply chain attacks that reverberated worldwide, it is quite clear that the scale and sophistication of these cyber threats are escalating. These incidents mentioned in the blog underscore the vulnerabilities that organizations may face in securing their assets, ranging from injecting malicious codes to exploiting certificate infrastructures.

The response to this growing threat lies in practicing safer codesigning practices and fostering a deeper comprehension of the risks associated with software development and distribution. CodeSign Secure works for you by enhancing your codesigning security posture while maintaining trust, integrity, and security in this evolving digital landscape.

Urgent Actions to Prepare for 90-Day SSL/TLS Certificates

The shortening of the duration of SSL/TLS certificates is rapidly becoming the norm in the cyber world, with 90-day certificates becoming the most common for many organizations. This transition aimed to serve security purposes more efficiently, accommodate more of the emerging threats and compel IT teams to remodel their approach to certificate management. Given the advancement of cyber threats with every passing day, the need for shorter certificate validity can be understood within the context of securing the purpose of encrypted communication.

On the other hand, this is also a problem. Companies must properly organize the monitoring processes, obtain new certificates in a timely manner, and control the availability of services to keep the smooth and safe operation of the Internet.

To facilitate the 90-day SSL/TLS certificate shift, one can refer to this comprehensive blog to get insight. Exploring these best practices will help you overcome critical issues such as automation and efficient management of certificate lifecycles as you work around Google’s recommended reduced constraints concerning the validity periods.

Timeline of Reduction of Validity Period of Certificates

The history of SSL/TLS certificate validity periods shows how the industry has worked hard to make cybersecurity stronger. Organizations like the CA/Browser Forum and major browser companies such as Google, Apple, Microsoft, and Mozilla have been key players in driving this change.

Before 2011, certificates were valid for 8–10 years (96 months). This long period created risks because outdated encryption algorithms stayed in use for too long. Many businesses struggled to manage vulnerabilities and faced higher chances of data breaches.
In 2012, the CA/Browser Forum reduced the maximum validity period to 5 years (60 months). This change reflects a clear shift towards enhanced security practices. Although it increased workloads, it also reduced the number of outages caused by expired certificates.
By 2015, the validity period was shortened to 3 years (39 months). Businesses started using automated tools to handle renewals, which reduced manual errors.
In 2018, the validity period was further reduced to 2 years (27 months). This adjustment was backed by major browser vendors like Microsoft and Apple and emphasized the need for more frequent cryptographic updates to counter emerging threats. This change accelerated the adoption of certificate lifecycle management (CLM) solutions, with organizations reporting a rise in investments in automation tools. However, businesses faced challenges in aligning IT workflows to meet the shortened cycle.
The landmark change came in 2020. Apple led the charge by announcing that Safari would no longer trust certificates with validity longer than 1 year (13 months). Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox implemented similar policies following Apple’s lead. This change had an impact on organizations, compelling many organizations to adopt fully automated CLM systems.
In July 2023, Google proposed the change at the CA/B Forum, which has not yet been accepted. Google’s proposal for a 90-day validity period for certificates represents a significant adjustment. It ensures that certificates remain aligned with evolving security standards.
In the same year, Apple also proposed the change at the CA/B Forum, and it aims to shorten SSL/TLS certificate lifespans in phases. Several changes will be made if the proposal gets accepted. By September 2026, certificates will be limited to 200 days with a 20-day early renewal period and a 200-day DCV (Domain Controller Validity) reuse period. By September 2027, certificate lifespans will be reduced to 100 days with a 10-day early renewal period and 100-day DCV reuse. Finally, by September 2028, certificates will have a 45-day validity, and the DCV reuse period will be just 10 days. It allows organizations to adopt faster and automated certificate management practices easily without sudden strain.

Each adjustment in validity periods has driven organizations to rethink their security workflows, invest in automation, and enhance compliance practices, ultimately strengthening their cybersecurity postures.

Issues Presented by Reduced Timeframe of Validity of Certificates

The transition to shorter certificate lifespans represents a significant shift in the management of digital certificates and enhances security by reducing the risk of compromised keys being misused over extended periods. However, this also brings several operational challenges that organizations must tackle efficiently.

Frequent Certificate Renewals
There is a need for more frequent renewals, which can go up to at least four times a year. It automatically increases the administrative burden, especially for enterprises managing thousands or even millions of certificates. This increased frequency not only strains resources but also increases the likelihood of human errors, leading to expired certificates.

Every year, a huge number of organizations experience outages due to expired certificates. A study by DigiCert found that certificate outages cost large corporations an average of $5,600 per minute. A notable example is the 2020 Microsoft Teams outage, where an expired certificate left millions of users without access. It showed the business and reputational risks tied to inadequate certificate management.
Non-Automated Systems
Relying on manual renewal processes was manageable with longer certificate lifespans, but with shorter certificate validity periods, it would become impractical. These manual methods often result in expired certificates or misconfigurations, causing disruptions or security risks. Legacy systems, which are older and not built for modern demands, face additional difficulties. They typically cannot support automated tools like ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment), which are crucial for managing certificates efficiently.

Furthermore, not all Certificate Authorities (CAs) and organizations are fully equipped to handle the accelerated issuance and renewal cycles that can create inconsistencies. Businesses are adopting centralized Certificate Management Systems to mitigate these challenges. Our solution, CertSecure Manager, provides a unified interface for tracking and renewing certificates.
Burden on the IT Team
The shift to shorter certificate lifespans places a significant burden on IT teams. With certificates needing to be renewed more frequently, IT teams must handle a higher volume of renewals. It increases the likelihood of errors like expired certificates. This can lead to system outages, affecting services and productivity. Without automation, IT teams can spend a lot of time managing their certificates, taking time away from other important work. Automation can save time and keep teams focused on critical tasks.

A major European mobile company named O2 faced an outage that lasted nearly a whole day due to an expired certificate from Ericsson. Millions of customers were affected by this certificate outage. As a result, O2 was compensated around $132.8 million by Ericsson.
Training and Upskilling Needs
Workforce upskilling is another critical component, as IT and DevOps teams need training to manage modern certificate lifecycles efficiently. These strategies require investment, but they are essential for minimizing service interruptions, reducing resource strain, and ensuring compliance in an era of shorter certificate lifespans. Organizations that successfully take care of these measures not only mitigate the risks associated with frequent renewals but also position themselves for improved operational resilience and enhanced trust in their digital services.

Organizations need to use automation tools and certificate management platforms to ensure proper certificate lifecycle management. These tools make the renewal process easier by automating tasks like issuing, deploying, and tracking certificates. These tools are designed to integrate smoothly with diverse environments, including legacy systems.

Immediate Actions for Efficient Certificate Management

Several actions are mentioned below that will help you manage certificates effectively.

Extensive Audit of Certificates
It is essential to comprehend the existing certificate scenario for the successful completion of this task. Therefore, write down all the known attributes of each and every certificate in an easy-to-understand manner and make the inventory. It can include the owner’s name, location of installation, and expiration details. This inventory provides necessary insights to assess the risks posed by any expiring or expired certificates. Hence, it will be helpful to avoid any disruptions in the services provided as well as possible security threats.
A worldwide organization like Google uses advanced certificate lifecycle management tools to conduct scans on their various websites, retrieve a report on all certificates in use, and underline the ones due for renewal. This way, the IT team gets a chance to mobilize and affect service renewal beforehand.

CertSecure Manager automates the discovery and auditing of TLS/SSL certificates across the organization. It provides real time insights into certificate attributes, expiration details, and their locations. This ensures proactive risk assessment and minimizes service interruptions.
Set up Discovery and Monitoring stages
The ongoing discovery of TLS/SSL certificates is of utmost importance for the proper management of inventory. Organizations require a platform that integrates the finding of new certificates while keeping their status in check to ensure that no certificate is left out and even those nearing expiry are dealt with accordingly.

A global corporation such as Microsoft adopts the use of such tools to enable the constant monitoring of its entire global footprint. In this regard, such automated systems improve visibility and reduce the risk of gaps in certificate coverage by discovering all the active certificates.

CertSecure Manager provides continuous discovery and monitoring of certificates across global infrastructures. You have a centralized dashboard to oversee all your SSL/TLS certificates. It allows you to track their status, validity dates, and the ownership details associated with each one.
Incorporate Risk Assessment Approaches
It is very important to evaluate the potential risks of your certificate management practice on a regular basis. This will help you detect any weaknesses that can be exploited or edge cases that may cause downtime in services.

For certificate management systems, new technology-oriented organizations may decide to do risk assessments concerning the project every six months. Focusing on those high-risk areas and devoting finances to them helps avoid such disruptions and retain the customers’ faith.

CertSecure Manager includes risk assessment that evaluates vulnerabilities in certificate management practices. It generates detailed certificate health reports that highlight critical areas. It enables organizations to allocate resources effectively and maintain service reliability.
Create Policies and Workflows that are Centralized
Encourage control policies for certificate management in your organization. There must be viable processes in place for any requests and approvals of new certificates to protect against teams breaking the new 90-day limit. Centralized policies ensure that all certificates within the organization follow the same process for issuance, renewal, and revocation. It also leads to consistency and reduces the risk of human error.

Organizational workflows are impacted by the implementation of custom policies in Certificate Lifecycle Management by automating and streamlining key processes, reducing manual effort, and enhancing security. Companies with centralized CLM policies experience faster certificate deployment time, improving service uptime and compliance.

CertSecure Manager offers centralized policy management and allows organizations to define and enforce certificate usage policies. It streamlines approval workflows for new certificate requests, ensuring compliance with organizational standards.
Automate Renewal Procedures
Manually renewing thousands of certificates is a tedious task, but automation can simplify the renewal process and improve security posture. Organizations using automated certificate management solutions experience reductions in the time spent on certificate-related tasks. This translates to significant cost savings and allows IT teams to focus on more strategic initiatives.

A 2022 study by VentureBeat showed that 81% of companies had experienced a certificate-related outage. This occurred within two years. It shows the significant risks associated with inadequate certificate management. These outages can result in substantial financial losses, and it is estimated by the Ponemon Institute that the average cost of IT downtime can be nearly $9,000 per minute.

A huge banking institution has implemented CertSecure Manager, which automated the renewal of certificates intended for their online banking portal. Automating the renewal of digital certificates worked efficiently and has reduced the chances of downtime a lot. The access for the customers is always maintained without manual actions from the institution.
Incorporate Certificate Management into DevOps Processes
Certificate management integration into the Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) framework increases efficiency and security. This integration makes it possible to ensure that the latest certificates are always used to deploy new applications or updates, hence minimizing the risks associated with using expired certificates in production.

Incorporating certificate management into DevOps processes enhances security compliance with standards like PCI DSS (for secure payment processing), HIPAA (ensuring patient data protection in healthcare), GDPR (maintaining privacy and data protection in the EU), SOX (ensuring financial data integrity), and ISO 27001 (promoting information security management). Improvement in deployment speed can be seen by automating certificate management within DevOps pipelines. This is because manual interventions are minimized, which allows for more reliable and faster software releases.

CertSecure Manager integrates seamlessly with CI/CD pipelines, such as Jenkins, GitHub Actions , and Azure DevOps, and automates certificate issuance and deployment during the build process. This ensures that only valid and secure certificates are used in production.
Maintain a Watch over Security Compliance
Due to the rapid rotation of certificates, it is important to have a tool that monitors security and compliance on a regular basis. Certificates should be managed by their management system in accordance with the best practices.

Big health insurance companies use certificate management software to find all the certificates in the organization on a quarterly basis and check which ones are HIPAA compliant. This is important to protect the patients’ private information and to keep the clients’ faith.

CertSecure Manager helps organizations stay compliant with industry standards and regulations. Features like compliance monitoring and reporting are also functional for the users. It highlights certificates that fail to meet specific requirements, such as HIPAA or PCI-DSS, and provides actionable insights for remediation.
Support Rising Machine Identities
With the progress of digital space, it is estimated by Cyberark that the number of machine identities will grow more than 2.4 times in the upcoming 12 months. As the demand for certificate management grows, the certificate authority market is expected to expand significantly. Research shows that the global certificate authority market size is going to increase from $81.7 million in 2019 to $285.7 million by 2030. This growth presents a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 12.3% from 2020 to 2030.

This means that organizations must ensure that the certificate management strategies they have in place are able to cope with the changing demands without worrying about security issues.

CertSecure Manager is built to handle the scalability demands of increasing machine identities. Its automated certificate provisioning and lifecycle management ensures seamless operations even as the number of machine identities grows exponentially.
Educate and Train Staff
It is very important to ensure that your team is aware of why SSL/TLS certificates are important and that they are properly maintained. Training sessions can also explain how to manage certificates with shorter lifespans and why it is dangerous to forget about the handling of such certificates.

Tech organizations arrange to hold training sessions on effective certificate management for their developers. This approach supports security culture practices and encourages team members to take part in protecting applications as part of their work.

CertSecure Manager provides intuitive interfaces and detailed guides, which reduces the learning curve for IT teams. Additionally, its centralized platform simplifies certificate management and makes it easier for staff to adopt best practices with minimal training.

These measures will help in the smooth transition of organizations to 90-day TLS/SSL certificates without any compromise to security and compliance. The potential dangers related to shorter validity periods for certificates will be mitigated with the help of automation and strong certificate lifecycle management, and operations efficiency will be improved. As the requirements for digital security change, these efforts will enable organizations to carry out operations even in a turbulent environment without any interruptions of security.

How can Encryption Consulting help?

The recent announcement by Google to limit SSL/TLS certificates to 90 days presents a significant window for companies to enhance their security controls. Though this recommendation is yet to be confirmed, it underlines the importance of managing the issuance and expiration of certificates. This gap is filled by Encryption Consulting’s CertSecure Manager, which manages the entire certificate lifecycle, starting from discovery and inventory, then on to issuance, renewal, and revocation once the certificates have been created to enforce timely renewals and minimize human intervention.

There are no worries about expired certificates as CertSecure Manager makes certificate management easy, allowing businesses to concentrate on their core values. Centralized management increases security compliance with regulations and flexibility in machine identities.

Challenges are always expected when changing to shorter operational lifecycles, but the advantages are more significant. Encryption Consulting is committed to giving the best advice and strategies throughout the transition period. CertSecure Manager places any organization at the forefront of technological advancement in cybersecurity, with significant profits garnered in the process of protecting sensitive information. Request a demo today.

Conclusion

The shift to 90-day certificate validity is a big change in digital security. It helps businesses to improve how they handle certificates. Shorter certificate lifespans reduce the risk of misuse, making systems safer from cyber threats. However, they also mean businesses must renew certificates more often, which can be challenging. To manage this, companies should regularly check all their certificates to avoid expired ones. Automating the renewal process saves time and prevents manual errors. Certificate lifecycle management tools should also be integrated with CI/CD pipelines to streamline updates during development. Managing everything from a single platform makes it easier to stay organized. By following these steps, businesses can improve security, avoid downtime, and ensure their services remain reliable and trusted.