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Significant changes are coming to SSL certificate lifetimes, and it’s important to understand how these updates may affect your website and security setup.
The CA/Browser Forum, the organisation responsible for setting global SSL standards, has announced that the maximum validity period for SSL certificates will be gradually reduced over the coming years. These changes are intended to improve security across the internet by encouraging more frequent certificate renewals.
In the future, SSL certificates will have a maximum validity period of 47 days. This means certificates will need to be renewed more frequently than they are today. However, the transition will happen gradually to give organisations and website owners time to adapt.
Key Dates to Be Aware Of
Currently, SSL certificates can be issued with a maximum validity of 398 days. The timeline for the upcoming changes is as follows:
- March 2026: Maximum validity reduced to 200 days
- March 2027: Reduced further to 100 days
- March 2029: Final reduction to 47 days
What This Means for MyHost Customers
As certificate lifetimes become shorter, manual renewals will become less practical, making automation an increasingly valuable solution. We already introduced automated SSL certificate management on our Business ,Personal and WordPress shared hosting platforms so customers do not need to take any action.
Customers on our older Personal Mini plans will have the option to transition to one of our newer packages, our team are here to help!
SSL Certificates With External Hosting
If you purchased an SSL certificate from Myhost but are using another hosting providor, you will need to ensure that the certificate is renewed and installed correctly on your hosting platform whenever it expires. With shorter validity periods in the future, monitoring renewal schedules will become increasingly important.
Consider Renewing Before March 16, 2026
If possible, renewing your SSL certificate before 16 March 2026 may be beneficial. Certificates issued before this date can still receive the current longer validity period.
Renewing early provides additional time to review your setup and plan for the upcoming changes, particularly for organisations using Wildcard SSL certificates or managing multiple domains.
Preparing for the Future
Although SSL certificate lifetimes are becoming shorter, the goal is to create a more secure and resilient internet. Shorter lifetimes reduce risk by ensuring certificates are refreshed more frequently and security standards remain up to date.
By understanding the upcoming timeline and reviewing your SSL management strategy now, you can ensure your website continues to operate securely and without interruption as these changes take effect
If you are unsure how these updates might impact your setup, it may be helpful to review your current SSL configuration or speak with us to ensure everything is prepared for the new standards.
About the Author: Martin Saunders
