In the digital age, SSL/TLS certificates are the cornerstone of network security and data encryption. HTTPS encryption safeguard communication between browsers/APPs, websites, APIs, and services, preventing man-in-the-middle attacks and data breaches. Yet, high-profile service outages caused by expired SSL certificates continue to expose the dangers of manual processes - especially when certificate application (requesting/issuing) and deployment (installation/configuration in Web server, load balance, SSL gateway) are handled by separate teams.
These incidents, often rooted in human oversight, miscommunication, or lack of coordination, make one thing clear: why should we still trust manual certificate workflows? This article highlights the critical importance of full automation, illustrates the risks through real-world disasters, and emphasizes the urgent need for automation in the context of post-quantum cryptography (PQC) migration. Calling for a full transition to a 'zero-trust human' certificate automation management model to prepare for the upcoming new regulation of a 200-day validity period.
The traditional manual workflow typically involves two distinct phases and often two different teams:
When these steps are handled by separate teams (e.g., security team handles issuance, infrastructure team handles deployment), the risks multiply:
In contrast, automation certificate management (ACME protocol) enables seamless application, issuance, renewal, and deployment - eliminating handovers and human error. Even more critically, the rise of quantum computing makes PQC migration an immediate priority. Current RSA/ECC/SM2 algorithms may be broken within the next decade. Short-lived certificates (90 days or less) are the only feasible way to quickly adopt new PQC algorithms, and this demands full automation.
The following 5 high-profile website security incidents demonstrate the catastrophic consequences of relying on manual certificate application and deployment:
These are not isolated cases. From Microsoft’s early incidents to recent outages at Adobe, Facebook, and OpenAI, manual certificate workflows - especially when split across teams - have repeatedly proven to be a ticking time bomb. Had these systems used automatic management, these disasters could have been entirely prevented.
The above incidents occurred during periods when SSL certificates were valid for 3 years, 2 years, and 1 year. As the validity period of SSL certificates is about to be reduced to 200 days, 100 days, and 47 days, if action is not taken promptly to achieve certificate automation, the author believes more similar security incidents will occur. It is crucial to immediately check all website system assets and implement automatic SSL certificate management for all systems.
Post-quantum cryptography is an urgent reality, there is now a security threat of 'harvest now, decrypt later'. Quantum computers could break current cryptography algorithms as early as the 2030s. NIST released PQC algorithm and is finalizing more PQC standards, and the global industry has already begun the PQC migration.
This transition demands:
Currently, the widely implemented hybrid PQC algorithm for HTTPS encryption uses the traditional SSL certificate. If SSL certificate automation management is implemented, simply upgrading the web server to support the hybrid PQC algorithm will automatically achieve PQC migration. Certificate automation is fundamental; without it, PQC migration will turn into a nightmare and is an impossible task to accomplish.
Stop gambling on human perfection and inter-team coordination. Take these steps now:
Certificate automation is not a nice-to-have; it is a must-have, especially the imminent arrival of the 200-day certificate on 'March 15'. The major outages listed above are stark reminders that trusting manual application and deployment, especially across separate teams, is trusting luck, and often end up losing bets. Embracing automation not only prevents disruptions but also future proofs your systems for the quantum era.
Is your organization ready for certificate automation?