Why Browsers Are Distrusting Older Root CAs 

Don’t Get Caught Off Guard by Unforeseen Browser Distrust 

If you’re managing SSL/TLS certificates for your organization, you may have heard about browsers beginning to distrust older root certificates. This is a fundamental policy change that could potentially have an impact on devices and services that rely on older trust stores.

However, with proper planning and the right certificate authority (CA) partner, you can navigate this transition smoothly to future-proof your operations. 

Our technical support team is available 24/7 to help you understand your customized certificate options and plan your migration strategy.

What’s Happening with Older Root Certificate Authority Distrust? 

The 15-Year SSL Certificate Rule Explained 

Major browser vendors, led by Mozilla and Google Chrome, have implemented new policies that automatically distrust root certificates when their cryptographic keys reach their 15-year mark.

While this may seem like an arbitrary number on the surface, it’s a calculated security measure designed to ensure that the internet security infrastructure stays ahead of the curve regarding the most recent and evolving cybersecurity threats. 

In practical terms, root certificates older than 15 years will have their websites’ trust signals removed. S/MIME certificates face an 18-year limit before being distrusted, and dual-purpose digital certificates handling both TLS and S/MIME must be separated by December 31, 2028. 

The policy gives certificate authorities roughly 10 years of active use in browser trust stores, accounting for the 2 to 3 years typically required to achieve widespread browser inclusion and the time needed for smooth transitions. 

Why Browser Distrust Matters for Enterprise SSL Certificates 

When a root certificate is distrusted, every certificate issued from that root hierarchy consequently becomes distrusted. This cascading effect can result in security warnings being displayed to your website’s visitors, potentially leading to lost consumer confidence and revenue loss. It necessitates urgent restoration efforts that could have been made beforehand to avoid disruptive business impacts. 

SSL.com is an active participant in the CA/Browser Forum and takes proactive steps to stay ahead of changes in trust store policy. We launched our 2022 root certificate series specifically designed to meet current and future browser requirements. 

The Role of Root Trust Stores: Understanding Trust Store Management

Trust stores are repositories that contain trusted root certificates, acting as the ultimate authority for the certificate validation chain across all connected devices and applications. Every operating system, browser, and application maintains its own trust store, which serves as the reference point for determining whether a certificate should be trusted. 

However, if the root certificate is missing, outdated, or has been removed due to distrust policies, the entire validation process fails.

The Dangers of Outdated Trust Stores

Organizations often underestimate the risks associated with outdated trust stores, particularly in environments with diverse device ecosystems. They can create significant operational disruptions, including: 

• Widespread certificate validation failures across internal systems
• The inability to establish secure connections with external partners and services
• Compliance issues in regulated industries where secure communications are mandatory
• Potential revenue loss

The problem becomes particularly acute with legacy devices and embedded systems that may not receive regular trust store updates. Industrial IoT devices, older mobile devices, legacy server systems, and specialized equipment often operate with trust stores that haven’t been updated in years, making them vulnerable to validation failures when newer certificates are deployed.

Proactive Trust Store Management Strategies

PKI administrators and device managers can take several proactive steps to avoid trust store-related issues. Consider implementing a comprehensive trust store audit process by cataloging all devices and systems in your environment, documenting their update mechanisms and schedules, identifying devices that require manual updates, and establishing a baseline inventory of trusted root certificates across all systems. Regular communication with device manufacturers and software vendors about trust store update schedules can also help your organization stay ahead of any potential issues.

It is also recommended to develop a systematic update strategy that includes trust store update automation where possible, testing protocols for validation changes, and rollback procedures in case of compatibility issues.

SSL.com’s 2022 Root Certificates 

Our modern root certificates are built for the future to help your business avoid unexpected disruptions through optimized trust and enhanced security: 

SSL.com TLS RSA Root CA 2022 

• SHA256 Fingerprint: 8FAF7D2E2CB4709BB8E0B33666BF75A5DD45B5DE480F8EA8D4BFE6BEBC17F2ED 
• Optimized for server and client authentication 
• Full browser ubiquity achieved 

SSL.com TLS ECC Root CA 2022 

• SHA256 Fingerprint: C32FFD9F46F936D16C3673990959434B9AD60AAFBB9E7CF33654F144CC1BA143 
• ECC-based for enhanced security and performance 
• Future-proof cryptographic algorithms 

Trust Store Coverage 

Our 2022 roots have achieved comprehensive trust across all major platforms, including Google Chrome (included March 2024), Mozilla Firefox (included in NSS 3.92), Microsoft Windows (added November 2023), Apple platforms (macOS, iOS), Linux distributions (Ubuntu, Red Hat, etc.), and Java environments (Oracle, IBM). 

A 4-Step Guide to Protect Your Organization from Older Root Certificate Authority Distrust 

Step 1: Assess Your Current Certificate Inventory 

Before making any changes, it is essential to understand your current certificate landscape. Catalog all SSL/TLS certificates across your organization, identify the root certificate hierarchies for each certificate, verify expiration dates and renewal schedules, and document any older devices that may have compatibility requirements. 

Pro Tips: Use our certificate checker tool or contact our support team for a comprehensive certificate portfolio audit. 

You can also add SSL.com’s Health Check Monitoring tool to help manage certificates, including automatic notifications to website administrators about upcoming certificate expiration dates to help ensure timely renewals.  

Step 2: Plan Your Migration Strategy 

For New Certificate Requests: 

• Request certificates that chain to SSL.com’s 2022 root hierarchies 
• Specify RSA or ECC based on your security and performance requirements 
• Ensure your Certificate Service Representative understands your timeline 

For Existing Certificates: 

• Plan renewals to coincide with root hierarchy updates 
• Prioritize internet-facing systems for early migration 
• Create a testing schedule for internal systems 

Step 3: Implement with Confidence 

Server Configuration Best Practices: 

For Apache servers: 

apache 

SSLCertificateFile /path/to/your-certificate.crt 

SSLCertificateKeyFile /path/to/your-private.key 

SSLCertificateChainFile /path/to/ssl-com-ca-bundle.crt 

For Nginx servers: 

nginx 

ssl_certificate /path/to/your-certificate-with-chain.crt; 

ssl_certificate_key /path/to/your-private.key; 

Pro Tip: Always include the complete certificate chain, including intermediate certificates, to ensure proper validation. 

Step 4: Test Thoroughly (with Special Consideration for Legacy Device Support) 

One of the biggest concerns with root certificate updates is maintaining compatibility with older devices that may not receive trust store updates. This is especially relevant for industrial IoT devices, embedded systems, legacy mobile devices, and older operating systems. 

Pro Tip: Test with actual devices in your environment (particularly older ones) to validate your certificate installation, verify certificate chains are complete and properly ordered, and monitor for any connectivity issues after deployment. 

SSL.com Testing Resources: 

• Test RSA 2022 root: https://test-root-2022-rsa.ssl.com/ 
• Test ECC 2022 root: https://test-root-2022-ecc.ssl.com/ 

Act Now, Avoid Browser Distrust Disruption Later 

Older root certificate authority distrust isn’t a distant concern; it’s happening now. Organizations that plan proactively will navigate this transition smoothly, while those that wait may face critical business disruptions. 

The 15-year SSL certificate distrust policy is already in effect for older certificates. SSL.com’s 2022 roots are fully publicly trusted across all major browsers and platforms. Proactive migration is always a more favorable option than reactive emergency fixes. Expert support can help ensure a smooth transition and significantly reduce the risk of costly disruptions. 

Working with SSL.com: Expert Guidance Every Step of the Way 

Don’t let outdated issued certificates put your business at risk. SSL.com’s certificate experts can help you assess your current certificate infrastructure and design a migration timeline that works for your business.

Our team provides technical support throughout the entire implementation process. We also offer ongoing monitoring and certificate lifecycle management. 

Beyond basic SSL/TLS certificates, SSL.com offers comprehensive solutions, including multi-year certificate plans with automatic reissuance, lifecycle management tools, custom PKI solutions tailored for enterprise environments, and 24/7 technical support from expert certificate specialists. SSL.com’s modern root hierarchies and expert support team are ready to help you confidently navigate this transition. 

Getting Started

Ready to future-proof your certificate infrastructure? Contact SSL.com today to discuss your certificate modernization strategy and ensure your organization stays ahead of browser distrust policies. 

Connect with our team at sales@ssl.com for a consultation, request a certificate audit to identify migration priorities, or discuss your timeline and any special requirements further. Start developing a customized migration plan with our experts.