An In-House Certificate Authority can no longer cut it.
Amidst the dynamic shifts in organizational structures, the spotlight on the hidden costs of operating an in-house Certificate Authority (CA) becomes more pronounced. This eBook is your guide to exploring the intricacies of managing an in-house CA, uncovering challenges, and shedding light on often-overlooked expenses.
"Beyond the Budget" is not just a guide to understanding these concealed costs; it is a roadmap illuminating the path to a secure, efficient, and future-ready certificate infrastructure.
From demystifying the allure of 'free' options like Microsoft CA to introducing GlobalSign's Certificate Automation Manager, this eBook equips you with insights that transcend immediate cost considerations. Our objectives are clear: to reveal the oftenoverlooked aspects of managing an in-house CA, present a strategic alternative in GlobalSign’s Certificate Automation Manager, and guide you to a comprehensive understanding of the long-term implications for your organization's digital security. Join us on this journey as we navigate challenges, unravel hidden costs, and discover a path to a secure and future-ready certificate infrastructure.
Unveiling the Hidden Costs
Many people refer to a Certificate Authority but the term can be misleading because it captures only a fraction of the technical processes that comprise a working Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). There are many moving parts and touchpoints behind the scenes:
- Registration Authorities (RAs)
- Timestamping servers
- Certificate logging
- Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP)
All these things require resources and bandwidth and can slow the process. PKI becomes even more complex when you add on use cases like client authentication and digital signing – which is why it is extraordinarily difficult for many organizations to create their own in-house CAs. In hard costs alone, running your own in-house CA can range between €1.3 and €3.7 million over five years. Whilst you can issue private certificates using Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) or Entra ID, that small cost advantage is outweighed significantly by the overall implementation and maintenance costs of an in-house CA. Beyond the costs associated with setup and ongoing management and maintenance, running an inhouse CA can take upwards of a third of your IT team’s time. The degree to which the workload scales is commensurate with your organization.
GlobalSign protects and secures your personal information,