Changes are coming to how we issue our SSL certificates.

Earlier this year, Apple announced that their Safari browser will only trust SSL certificates with a maximum lifetime of 398 days (13 months). Soon after, Mozilla and Google, followed suit with similar announcements for their Firefox and Chrome web browsers respectively.

To keep up with evolving trends and standards of the industry, as of August 13, 2020 we will no longer be issuing SSL certificates for longer than a 1 year period. Certificates that are issued prior to this date with longer terms are still valid and will still be trusted by web browsers until their original expiration date.

What are the benefits of having shorter validity periods?

Renewing every year may sound like a headache, but it comes with some benefits:

  1. Get the latest security – with annual reissues of certificates, you know that the technology behind your certificate is the latest version and the most up to date minimizing vulnerabilities.
  2. Enhanced identity identification – the information provided to validate a SSL certificate loses its trustworthiness overtime and with annual reissues of certificates, your customers know that you are who you say you are.

Essentially, having shorter validity periods means increased security for your website and for your customers.

How will this change SSL certificates at Canadian Web Hosting?

Certificates that are valid past August 13 will continue to be valid until their expiry date. Any certificates that are purchased, renewed or reissued past August 13 will comply with this new standard and be issued for 1 year only.

Don’t have an SSL certificate yet? It’s time you add this valuable security to your website.

Speak to our team about adding a SSL certificate to your website.