SSL Certificate Management Best Practices
SSL certificates are the backbone of web security, yet they're one of the most commonly overlooked operational concerns. Here's how to manage them effectively.
Why SSL Management Matters
An expired SSL certificate can:
- Take your entire site offline
- Trigger browser security warnings that scare away customers
- Break API integrations and webhooks
- Damage your brand's reputation
Best Practice #1: Centralize Your Inventory
The first step is knowing what you have. Create a single source of truth for all your certificates:
- Domain certificates
- Wildcard certificates
- Internal/self-signed certificates
- Third-party service certificates
Best Practice #2: Set Up Layered Alerts
Don't rely on a single reminder. Set up multiple alerts:
- 30 days: First heads-up, start planning
- 14 days: Urgent reminder, begin renewal process
- 7 days: Critical alert, escalate if not renewed
- 1 day: Emergency, all hands on deck
Best Practice #3: Automate Where Possible
Consider using:
- Let's Encrypt with auto-renewal
- Cloud provider managed certificates (AWS ACM, Cloudflare)
- Certificate management platforms
Best Practice #4: Document Your Renewal Process
Create runbooks for:
- Standard certificate renewals
- Emergency certificate replacements
- Vendor contact information
- Escalation procedures
Best Practice #5: Regular Audits
Schedule quarterly reviews to:
- Verify all certificates are tracked
- Check for certificates nearing expiration
- Remove obsolete entries
- Update ownership information
How CautionHQ Helps
CautionHQ automates certificate tracking and alerting, so you can focus on building instead of worrying about renewals.