Digital certificates provide essential encryption and authentication for web-based interactions. As manual certificate management becomes increasingly challenging, automated Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) offers a structured approach to handle SSL/TLS certificates efficiently.

Sectigo's CLM maturity model provides a framework for organizations to assess and improve their certificate management processes through five distinct levels:

Level 0: Manual

• Basic certificate handling with no automation
• High risk of outages due to forgotten renewals
• Vulnerable to security lapses
• Insufficient for modern 45-day certificate lifespans

Level 1: Automation

• Introduction of automated processes
• Streamlined certificate issuance and renewals
• Improved efficiency but limited oversight
• Basic automation of essential tasks

Level 2: Automation and Visibility

• Real-time certificate tracking
• Comprehensive monitoring
• Centralized interface
• Enhanced awareness of certificate status

Level 3: Automation, Visibility, and Discovery

• Complete certificate inventory
• Multi-CA oversight
• Automated discovery processes
• Enhanced security monitoring

Level 4: Automation, Visibility, Discovery, and Process & Governance

• Policy-driven management
• Strong compliance controls
• Integration support (ACME, SCEP, REST API)
• Comprehensive security framework

Level 5: Complete CLM Maturity with Crypto Agility

• Future-ready infrastructure
• Quantum-resistant capabilities
• Swift algorithm adaptation
• Maximum security preparedness

Organizations benefit from assessing their current CLM maturity level and developing a roadmap for advancement. The model emphasizes progression from manual processes to full automation with crypto agility, ensuring long-term security and efficiency.

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