The way SSL/TLS certificates are issued is changing across the internet, with shorter certificate lifecycles becoming the new standard. While this shift improves security, it can raise questions, especially if you manage SSL certificates manually or are seeing new validity periods you haven’t encountered before.
Whether you’re a small business owner, developer, or managing a single website, it’s our priority to make you feel informed, prepared, and confident as these changes roll out.
This guide will explain what SSL/TLS lifecycle changes are, clarify why certificates are becoming shorter-lived, help you understand what this means for your website and security, outline the key dates and changes you should be aware of, and show you what simple steps you can take to stay protected and avoid downtime.
- What are SSL/TLS Certificates?
- What is Changing With SSL/TLS Lifecycles?
- Why is This Happening?
- Why a 1-Year Paid SSL Certificate Expires After Approximately 6 Months
- What This Means for Your Paid SSL Subscription
- What You Need to Do
- Important Dates to Know
- Domain Control Validation (DCV) Changes Explained
- How This Impacts Website Owners
- What You Can Do Now
- Our Scope of Support
- FAQs
- Additional Resources
What are SSL/TLS Certificates?
SSL/TLS certificates secure your website by encrypting data between your site and its visitors. They protect logins, payments, forms, and personal information, and they’re essential for trust, security, and modern browsers.
If you’ve ever seen the padlock icon in a browser, that’s SSL/TLS doing its job.
What is Changing With SSL/TLS Lifecycles?
The global security industry is moving toward shorter SSL/TLS certificate lifespans to improve internet safety.
Starting 12 March 2026, certificate authorities (CAs) like Sectigo will enforce:
- A maximum certificate validity of ~198/199 days (about 6 months)
- Shorter Domain Control Validation (DCV) reuse periods
- More frequent certificate reissuance during the purchased term
Later, this will continue to reduce, with 47-day certificates planned by 2029, as confirmed by providers like DigiCert.
Why is This Happening?
Shorter certificate lifespans:
- Reduce the risk of compromised certificates
- Improve response time to security threats
- Align with modern browser and security standards
This is an industry-wide security improvement, and not a change specific to 1-grid.
Why a 1-Year Paid SSL Certificate Expires After Approximately 6 Months
If you’ve purchased a one-year SSL subscription, you may notice that your issued certificate is valid for approximately six months rather than the full year. You may also be asked to validate your domain again before a replacement certificate can be issued.
This does not mean your one-year SSL subscription has been reduced to six months. Your subscription term and the validity period of an individual certificate are different.
From 12 March 2026, Sectigo introduced a maximum validity period of 199 days for newly issued public SSL/TLS certificates. Domain Control Validation (DCV), which confirms that you control the domain, can be reused for up to 198 days.
This means that a replacement certificate may need to be issued during your existing subscription, and your domain may need to be validated again before that certificate can be issued.
What This Means for Your Paid SSL Subscription
- Your subscription remains active: Your purchased one-year term is not shortened simply because an individual certificate has a shorter validity period.
- Your certificate may need to be reissued: A new certificate must be issued within your existing subscription to maintain coverage beyond the current certificate’s expiry.
- Your domain may need revalidation: If your previous domain validation is no longer eligible for reuse, it must be completed again before a new certificate can be issued.
- The process depends on your SSL setup: The required steps may differ depending on how your certificate is managed and whether reissuance and validation are handled automatically or require action.
What You Need to Do
Not every customer will need to complete the same steps. If you’re unsure whether your certificate needs to be reissued or your domain revalidated, contact our Support Team so we can check your specific SSL service and clarify what, if anything, is required from you.
We recommend checking your certificate’s expiry date and any validation or reissuance requirements in advance to help prevent avoidable interruptions to your website’s secure connection.
Important Dates to Know
- Before 12 March 2026
Certificates issued before this date remain valid until they expire (unless revoked).
- From 12 March 2026 onward
All newly issued SSL/TLS certificates (including renewals and reissues) will follow the shorter lifecycle rules.
Domain Control Validation (DCV) Changes Explained
DCV is how certificate authorities confirm that you control the domain.
What’s changing:
- DCV reuse periods are shortening to around 6 months
- You may need to re-verify your domain more often
TIP: Keeping DNS access handy makes DCV fast and painless.
How This Impacts Website Owners
More Frequent Reissuance
You’ll install new certificates more often, especially if you’re managing SSL manually.
Increased Risk of Missed Renewals
Manual processes increase the chance of expiry if reminders are missed.
Automation Becomes Your Best Friend
Automation dramatically reduces downtime, stress, and support tickets.
What You Can Do Now
- Review how your SSL certificates are currently managed
- Regularly check your renewal periods
- Consider automation if you manage multiple sites
- Bookmark this guide for future reference
BENEFITS: Fewer outages, less manual work, and peace of mind.
Our Scope of Support
If you’re stuck and need any additional guidance or support, here’s an outline of what we can do and what is not within our Scope of Support.
What We Can Help With
- SSL certificate purchases and renewals
- Reissuance guidance
- DCV troubleshooting
- SSL recommendations
- DNS and SSL installation support
What We Are Unable to Assist With
- Overriding certificate authority policies
- Extending certificate lifespans beyond industry limits
- Bypassing DCV requirements
FAQs
Q: Why does my one-year Premium SSL certificate expire after approximately six months?
Q: Why do I need to validate my domain again?
Domain Control Validation (DCV) can be reused for up to 198 days. If your existing validation is no longer eligible for reuse, your domain must be validated again before a new certificate can be issued.
Q: Do I need to purchase another SSL subscription?
Not simply because your certificate needs to be reissued during your existing subscription. Your subscription term remains unchanged. Contact Support if you need confirmation of your specific subscription or any additional charges.
Q: Will my SSL certificate be reissued automatically?
This depends on how your SSL service is managed. Some setups may require action from you or our Support Team. We recommend checking your certificate’s current status and confirming the next steps before it expires.
Q: Will my website be affected?
A shorter certificate validity period does not automatically mean your website will experience downtime. However, if a certificate expires before its replacement is issued and installed, visitors may encounter certificate security warnings. Checking the expiry date and completing any required validation or reissuance in time helps reduce this risk.
Q: Is this a change specific to 1-grid?
No. These are industry-wide certificate lifecycle changes implemented by certificate authorities to align with updated security requirements.
Additional Resources
1-grid SSL Product Page
Everything You Need to Know About SSLs at 1-grid
Need Additional Support?
We’re Here to Help:
Understanding these important SSL/TLS lifecycle changes and why this matters doesn’t have to cause concerns with this easy-to-reference guide. Stuck? Check out our Scope of Support, and then contact our Support Team for further clarity and guidance (https://1grid.co.za/contact-us/). We’re ready to see how we can help!