How to Renew a DigiCert Certificate: A Comprehensive Guide for Beginners

The time has come. Your DigiCert certificate is about to expire, and renewing it might seem like a daunting task. However, with the right guidance and a bit of patience, the renewal process can be seamless, securing your website or server for another year or longer. DigiCert, one of the most trusted names in SSL certification, offers a straightforward renewal process, but it's important to understand the details to ensure that your renewal goes smoothly.

Understanding Certificate Expiration

DigiCert certificates are typically valid for one to three years, depending on the term you choose when purchasing. Once a certificate expires, any secure connection between your website and users will be disrupted, potentially leading to security warnings, lost trust, and a dip in traffic. Therefore, renewing your certificate before the expiration date is critical to maintaining your website's integrity.

What Happens If You Don’t Renew?

If your SSL certificate expires without renewal, your website becomes vulnerable to cyber threats and data breaches. Visitors to your site will be greeted by ominous warnings, indicating that the website is no longer secure. For e-commerce platforms and businesses handling sensitive data, this could spell disaster. Beyond security, search engines like Google penalize websites without SSL certificates, pushing them lower in search rankings, meaning your visibility and credibility could take a hit.

When to Renew?

The best practice is to renew your DigiCert certificate 30 days before it expires. DigiCert generally sends out notifications reminding you of your upcoming expiration, so you won’t be caught off guard. Acting early helps avoid the downtime that may occur when certificates lapse and gives you time to handle any unexpected issues in the renewal process.

Step-by-Step Guide to Renewing a DigiCert Certificate

Step 1: Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

Before renewing, you'll need to create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). This is essentially a block of encrypted text that contains the information needed by DigiCert to issue a new certificate. You can typically generate a CSR via your web hosting control panel or by using a command-line interface if you manage your own server. Here’s a quick breakdown of how to do this:

• In cPanel: Navigate to "SSL/TLS" -> "Generate a New Certificate."
• On Apache (via Command Line):

  shell
  openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout yourdomain.key -out yourdomain.csr
  

Ensure that the CSR includes accurate details such as domain name, company name, and your country to avoid issues during validation.

Step 2: Log in to Your DigiCert Account

Once you have your CSR ready, log in to your DigiCert account. Navigate to the “Renew” section in your dashboard. You should see an option to renew the certificate for the domain in question.

Step 3: Submit the CSR

When prompted, submit the CSR that you generated in Step 1. Make sure all details are correct and match the original certificate, especially the domain name. A mismatch can lead to validation delays.

Step 4: Choose Your Certificate Term and Validation Type

During renewal, you’ll be asked to select the duration of your certificate. DigiCert offers certificates for up to three years. Additionally, you may be prompted to choose between Domain Validation (DV), Organization Validation (OV), or Extended Validation (EV). Each level provides varying degrees of security and verification:

• DV (Domain Validation): Basic security, ensuring only that you control the domain.
• OV (Organization Validation): Verifies both your domain control and business legitimacy.
• EV (Extended Validation): The highest level of trust and verification, ideal for e-commerce sites and businesses handling sensitive data.

Step 5: Complete the Validation Process

The validation process differs based on the type of certificate you’ve selected:

• For DV Certificates: You’ll need to confirm control of the domain through an email-based challenge, DNS configuration, or uploading a verification file to your server.
• For OV and EV Certificates: In addition to domain control validation, DigiCert will verify your organization’s details. For EV, this could involve providing additional legal documentation, proof of your business address, and other information.

Table: Validation Process Breakdown

Validation Type	Requirements	Best for
Domain Validation (DV)	Control of domain via email, DNS, or file upload	Basic websites, blogs
Organization Validation (OV)	Domain control + company verification	Businesses, non-profits
Extended Validation (EV)	Domain control + full business documentation	E-commerce, finance, healthcare

Step 6: Download and Install the New Certificate

Once DigiCert completes the validation, your certificate will be issued. You’ll receive an email with a link to download the new certificate file. Ensure that you download the correct version for your server type.

• For Apache: Typically, you'll need a .crt file.
• For IIS: A .pfx file might be required.

After downloading, you must install the certificate on your server. This process varies by server type, but the following steps are commonly used:

• For Apache:
  Copy the certificate files to your server and update the configuration to point to the new files:

  shell
  SSLCertificateFile /path/to/yourdomain.crt
  SSLCertificateKeyFile /path/to/yourdomain.key
  SSLCertificateChainFile /path/to/intermediate.crt
  

  After editing the config file, restart Apache to apply changes.

• For IIS:
  Use the IIS Manager to import the .pfx file and bind it to the appropriate website.

Common Issues and Troubleshooting

Issue 1: Invalid CSR

One of the most common issues during the renewal process is submitting an invalid or improperly formatted CSR. Double-check that your CSR is correct before submission. Use DigiCert’s CSR checker tool to verify its accuracy.

Issue 2: Mismatched Information

Another potential problem is mismatched information during validation, especially with OV and EV certificates. If your business details don’t match what’s on public record, DigiCert might delay issuing the certificate until the discrepancies are resolved.

Issue 3: Installation Errors

Improper installation is another frequent roadblock. Make sure that you’ve uploaded all necessary certificate files to your server and configured them correctly in your server’s settings. Missing an intermediate certificate file, for instance, can result in browser warnings even after the certificate is installed.

Automating the Renewal Process

For businesses or organizations managing multiple websites or certificates, automating the SSL renewal process can save time and reduce the risk of errors. DigiCert offers various APIs and integrations with hosting platforms and certificate management tools like CertCentral that can streamline the renewal workflow. By automating renewals, you can avoid lapses in coverage and ensure certificates are always up to date.

Conclusion

Renewing a DigiCert certificate doesn't have to be a complex process. By following the steps outlined here, from generating the CSR to completing the validation and installing the certificate, you can ensure your website remains secure and compliant. Take advantage of early renewal windows, validate your business information ahead of time, and consider automation tools to simplify the process further. Whether you’re running a personal blog or managing an enterprise-level e-commerce site, keeping your SSL certificates current is key to maintaining user trust and safeguarding your data.