Identity Verification and Certificate Management

Strong identity verification forms the foundation of trustworthy digital signatures. When obtaining certificates, provide accurate information and comply with all verification requirements. Higher assurance certificates requiring in-person verification or extensive documentation provide stronger identity binding. While convenient, domain-validated certificates only prove control of a domain, not real-world identity. Choose certificate types appropriate to your signature use cases—legal documents might require higher assurance than internal communications.

Certificate lifecycle management prevents security gaps and operational disruptions. Track certificate expiration dates and begin renewal processes well in advance. Sudden certificate expiration can halt business processes and invalidate time-sensitive documents. Implement automated monitoring for expiration warnings. When certificates must be revoked due to compromise or personnel changes, act immediately—continued use of compromised certificates undermines entire security architectures.

Managing multiple certificates requires organization and documentation. Many users accumulate certificates for different purposes—email encryption, document signing, code signing, and authentication. Each certificate might have different keys, expiration dates, and appropriate uses. Maintain an inventory documenting each certificate's purpose, expiration date, and associated systems. This organization prevents accidental misuse and ensures timely renewals. Consider certificate management platforms for organizations with numerous certificates.