DigiCert & Citrix automate SSL certificate lifecycle for the cloud
DigiCert and Citrix have launched a new integration supporting full automation of SSL/TLS certificate lifecycles within hybrid and multi-cloud environments. The partnership is designed to help enterprises address changing requirements in digital security, particularly as certificate validity periods continue to shorten across the industry.
Lifecycle automation
The integration leverages Citrix NetScaler's Zero-Touch Certificate Management (ZTCM) and DigiCert's support for the ACME protocol, enabling enterprises to automate certificate issuance, installation, and renewal. The system supports both DigiCert CertCentral and the DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager, allowing organisations to select their preferred automation platform.
Through DigiCert Trust Lifecycle Manager, users can take advantage of advanced policy enforcement and delegated administration. This further helps manage large volumes of certificates deployed across hybrid and multi-cloud setups, ensuring visibility and governance.
Industry response
Recent changes in industry standards require SSL/TLS certificate validity to be reduced from 398 days to 47 days. This development increases operational burden on IT teams to keep systems compliant and protected. Automation has become essential, as manual management of certificate renewal and installation creates risk of outages, errors, and compliance failures.
Key operational benefits cited for the integration include removing manual tasks, ensuring consistent encryption, and reducing the risk of downtime from expired certificates. The integration is designed to support scalability for enterprises expanding their hybrid and cloud presence, and also aims to enable organisations to rapidly implement cryptographic updates such as post-quantum algorithms.
"The cryptographic landscape is undergoing rapid transformation, and shorter certificate lifetimes are just one part of that change," said Anthony Ricci, AVP of Solutions Engineering, DigiCert. "Our integration with Citrix NetScaler enables enterprises to automate every stage of certificate management-from issuance to renewal-ensuring uptime, compliance, and crypto-agility across hybrid and multi-cloud environments."
Operational impact
The new solution is delivered via the ACME protocol, an open standard that facilitates automated certificate management. Citrix NetScaler's ZTCM manages application delivery infrastructure for many enterprise customers, and the direct integration with DigiCert is designed to minimise administrative load while maintaining security standards.
The approach integrates central monitoring and management capabilities, providing IT departments with a single point of control over digital certificates used for encryption and identification across distributed systems. As a result, organisations aim to better avoid issues related to manual certificate handling, such as unanticipated expiries or configuration mistakes.
"Enterprises are being forced to rethink how they manage encryption at scale," said Steve Shah, SVP/GM, Citrix NetScaler. "As certificate lifetimes shrink, the margin for error disappears. Our collaboration with DigiCert helps organisations automate certificate management from end to end, simplifying operations, improving reliability, and ensuring that security keeps pace with the speed of modern business."
