The SSL/TLS industry is undergoing a significant shift. Beginning March 15, 2026, the maximum validity period for public SSL certificates will be reduced from 398 days to just 200 days. This update, recently approved by the CA/Browser Forum, aims to strengthen security across the web by shortening the exposure window for compromised or misused certificates. For website owners, IT teams, and resellers, now is the time to prepare.

If you're relying on manual renewal processes, this new cycle—less than seven months—could quickly become overwhelming. The solution? Adopt automation and centralized management tools like NicSRS SSL Certificates and Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) platforms to stay ahead.

Why the Change to 200 Days?
The internet is evolving, and so are the threats. Shorter certificate validity:
- Reduces the risk from key compromise or certificate misuse
- Encourages more frequent domain revalidation
- Pushes the industry toward automation and better lifecycle hygiene
This trend isn't new. In 2020, the maximum SSL validity dropped from 825 to 398 days. Now, 200 days is just the next phase—with further reductions (to 100, then 47 days) already planned for the years ahead.

How to Prepare for the New SSL Lifecycle
1. Audit Your Current Certificate Inventory: Know what certificates you have, when they expire, and how they're renewed.
2. Implement Automation Tools: Use solutions like NicSRS CLM to automate issuance, renewal, and revocation.
3. Monitor Your Domains: Frequent changes in DNS or hosting can affect validation. Monitoring tools help reduce surprises.
4. Train Your Team or Clients: As renewal frequency increases, your staff and customers must understand their role in maintaining uptime and security.

Don't Wait—Start with Sectigo CaaS
For businesses that want zero-touch deployment at scale, Sectigo CaaS (Certificate as a Service) is a game-changer. NicSRS was the first company worldwide to release Sectigo CaaS, giving you access to:
- Fully automated SSL issuance and renewal
- Professional ACME support
- Scalable deployments for enterprises and resellers
Whether you're a single-site owner or managing thousands of domains, Sectigo CaaS & NicSRS CLM can help you adapt to this new SSL era.

Final Thoughts
200-day certificates are only the beginning. With 100-day and 47-day caps coming soon, organizations must move from reactive certificate management to proactive automation. NicSRS offers a full ecosystem of SSL solutions to help you streamline operations, reduce outages, and stay compliant.

Now is the time to act. Review your setup, train your team, and start implementing automated workflows. Your users' trust depends on it.