India’s digital economy is experiencing significant growth, with organizations across various sectors rapidly transforming through cloud technology, digital platforms, and AI-driven services. Central to this digital landscape is the necessity for secure, authenticated communication, enabled by TLS (Transport Layer Security) certificates. These certificates safeguard sensitive data in transit, ensure trust between systems, and form a fundamental layer of cybersecurity hygiene. However, this crucial layer is set to undergo considerable changes.
A new regulation from the CA/Browser Forum will dramatically shorten the maximum validity period for public TLS certificates from the existing 398 days to only 47 days by March 2029. This transition will roll out in phases: 200 days by 2026, 100 days by 2027, and finally 47 days by 2029. While this adjustment is motivated by security needs, it presents significant operational and compliance hurdles for enterprises worldwide, including India.
From private companies and IT service providers to government entities and regulated industries, the requirement to manage numerous digital certificates with notably shorter lifetimes compels organizations to rethink their certificate lifecycle management strategies.From Compliance to Chaos: The Hidden Risks of Certificate Expiration
TLS certificates are often regarded as essential but not urgent components of IT infrastructure. This perception is perilous. Consider a scenario where a prominent private bank in India faces an internal API gateway certificate expiry during peak hours. The repercussions include failed UPI transactions, downtime of net banking services, an influx of customer complaints on social media, and regulatory scrutiny following a lapse in standard certificate renewal procedures.
In a regulatory environment governed by the RBI’s cyber resilience frameworks, SEBI’s risk-based supervision, and CERT-In’s six-hour breach reporting guidelines, the implications extend beyond technicalities; they are vital for business continuity.
Manual Management is No Longer Sufficient
Many organizations in India still manage TLS certificates through manual processes, such as spreadsheets and reminder systems scattered across IT and DevOps. This approach is barely sustainable today, and in a 47-day cycle, it becomes a recipe for chaos. Beyond merely tracking expiration dates, businesses must also manage:
- Renewals across hybrid environments (cloud, on-premise, APIs, mobile)
- Adherence to policies (key lengths, issuing authorities, algorithms)
- Real-time monitoring and notifications
- Integration with DevOps pipelines to prevent last-minute delays
- Crypto-agility: the capability to swiftly replace algorithms or certificate authorities as standards evolve
Five Steps to Prepare for 47-Day TLS Certificates
Below is a five-step framework for enterprises aiming to future-proof their certificate management in light of impending changes.
1. Implement Automated Discovery and Inventory
Organizations should begin by achieving visibility into all their TLS certificates across internal and external environments, including load balancers, servers, applications, and cloud resources. A centralized, automated discovery tool can help create a real-time inventory that identifies ownership, expiration dates, and usage patterns to eliminate blind spots.
Firms should establish comprehensive policies that define the renewal frequency of certificates, key sizes, preferred certificate authorities (CAs), and acceptable algorithms. Automated policy enforcement will ensure that certificate management aligns with compliance standards, internal policies, and risk management frameworks.
3. Integrate with DevOps and CI/CD Pipelines
As businesses increasingly depend on swift release cycles, TLS certificates should be embedded directly into their development workflows. Automating issuance and deployment through CI/CD tools like Jenkins, GitHub, or Kubernetes enables secure-by-design releases and prevents last-minute security delays.
With significantly shorter validity periods, missed renewals leave no room for error. Organizations must introduce continuous certificate monitoring with automated alerts for upcoming expirations, configuration defects, and policy breaches. Integrating with ticketing and incident response systems can expedite resolution. 5. Incorporate Crypto-Agility within the Ecosystem
Apart from lifecycle management, companies must prepare for evolving cryptographic standards. The ability to rapidly switch algorithms, update trust anchors, or adapt to regulatory shifts with minimal disruption, known as crypto-agility, is essential for future-proofing security initiatives.
India’s Urgency: Act Now for Operational Resilience
The digital infrastructure in India, which underpins public services, financial systems, healthcare, and e-commerce, is too critical to risk being vulnerable to expired certificates or manual errors. The consequences of even a minor lapse can affect millions of users, particularly in high-trust sectors.
By taking decisive action now, Indian enterprises can leverage this regulatory change into a strategic advantage. Incorporating automation and governance in certificate lifecycle management will ensure uninterrupted digital operations and fortify an organization’s cybersecurity framework.
The transition to 47-day TLS certificates is not merely a compliance requirement; it signifies a crucial turning point for how Indian enterprises manage digital trust on a large scale. Organizations that proactively adapt their approaches today—through automation, visibility, and agility—will be in the best position for secure and seamless operations in the future.
The author is Rohan Vaidya, Area Vice President, India & SAARC, CyberArk.
Disclaimer: The views expressed are solely those of the author, and ETCIO does not necessarily endorse them. ETCIO is not responsible for any damage incurred by any individual or organization, directly or indirectly.
