{"id":3364,"date":"2026-02-09T02:55:36","date_gmt":"2026-02-09T10:55:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ssls.com\/blog\/?p=3364"},"modified":"2026-03-13T08:08:28","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T15:08:28","slug":"ssl-lifespans-are-getting-shorter-heres-whats-changing-and-whats-coming-to-keep-things-simple","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ssls.com\/blog\/ssl-lifespans-are-getting-shorter-heres-whats-changing-and-whats-coming-to-keep-things-simple\/","title":{"rendered":"SSL lifespans are getting shorter \u2014 here\u2019s what\u2019s changing and what\u2019s coming to keep things simple"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Starting March 12, 2026, SSL certificates issued by any Certificate Authority will last 200 days \u2014 a little under 7 months \u2014 instead of a full year. This is an industry-wide change that applies to everyone, everywhere. Certificates you already have will keep working until they expire, and new automation tools are on the way to make each reactivation seamless.<\/pre>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Why this is happening<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This change comes from a ballot passed on April 11, 2025 by the CA\/Browser Forum<\/a> \u2014 a standards body made up of Certificate Authorities, browser vendors, and tech companies. The proposal was put forward by Apple and approved by Forum members. The long-term goal is to eventually shorten SSL lifespans to 47 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Shorter certificates improve security by reducing risks from key compromise, misissuance, and outdated cryptography. They also make domain ownership checks more accurate and push the industry toward automated renewal \u2014 which is ultimately safer and more reliable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
So what does this mean for you?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
After March 12, any new SSL will last a little under 7 months per issuance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
SSL certificates issued\u00a0before\u00a0March 12 will stay valid for their full term until they expire. No changes there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can still purchase up to 5 years of SSL. To use the full prepaid time, certificates will need to be reactivated every 200 days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Full automation support is rolling out between summer and fall 2026.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Until then, your certificates will continue working normally. When your SSL gets close to its 200-day mark, you\u2019ll receive 30-day reminders along with simple instructions for reactivation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Our pricing and billing cycles remain exactly the same.
SSL lifetime validity is an industry-wide change that now applies to all providers. We\u2019ve structured our service as a subscription model specifically to keep the annual cost as low as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you purchase a certificate for a year or more, your site stays secured for the full paid period. The only thing to be aware of is that the industry standard limits how long an individual SSL file can remain active before it needs to be reinstalled \u2014 this is something every provider operates within.\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Automation options coming in 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1) Web-based automation (SSL Proxy)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
No setup. No scripts. No server changes. When: July\u2013August 2026<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You simply point your domain to the proxy using a DNS record (ALIAS or IP). We handle everything else: issuance, installation, reactivation, and updates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Think of it as a secure layer between your server and your visitors\u2019 browsers. Its only job is to keep your SSL valid and your connection secure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ideal for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n