RapidSSL + Automate: Automated SSL Certificate Issuance, Installation, and Renewal
Rapid SSL + Automate includes two ways to fully automate your SSL certificate. Choose AutoInstall SSL® for guided, plug-and-play automation with built-in monitoring and failure alerts, or ACME for flexible automation across more environments. Both handle issuance, validation, installation, and renewal automatically after a single setup.
- Eliminate manual renewals with fully automated certificate updates.
- Set it up once, your site stays online and secure indefinitely
- Prevent downtime by avoiding certificate expirations
- Handle shorter SSL lifespans with no extra work
Automate the entire SSL certificate lifecycle:
- Issuance & validation — Domain ownership is verified automatically via file-based (HTTP) or DNS-based validation.
- Installation — The certificate is deployed directly to your server (Apache, NGINX, or IIS) with no manual file placement or command-line steps.
- Renewal — Renewal begins automatically 28-30 days before expiration. No calendar reminders, no manual reinstallation, no gaps in coverage.
Why it matters
SSL certificate validity periods are shrinking which means more frequent certificate renewals. With RapidSSL + Automate, renewals happen automatically, so your certificate is always up to date and your site stays secure.
Two Ways to Automate Your SSL Certificate
Both ACME and AutoInstall SSL® are included with RapidSSL + Automate, so you can choose the automation method that best fits your needs and environment.
The easiest way to fully automate SSL on Windows and Linux servers. Install the agent once with a copy and paste command. After that, every issuance, renewal, and revocation replacement runs hands-off. Includes built-in monitoring and email alerts in case of automation failure or a missed renewal. Best for small to mid-sized businesses and server admins who want SSL on autopilot.
Supported environments:
- Apache on Linux
- NGINX on Linux
- IIS on Windows
- Root/admin access required
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Eliminate Manual Renewals
Never worry about tracking expiration dates or last-minute renewals again. Sectigo ACME CaaS automates SSL renewals, ensuring your certificates are always up to date without manual effort.
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Reduce Downtime Risks
Expired certificates can cause costly service disruptions. Sectigo ACME CaaS eliminates this risk by automating SSL renewals, preventing downtime and security lapses. With ACME integration, your certificates will always be renewed before expiration, keeping your business online and protected.
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Future-Proof Security
Stay ahead of evolving security standards with automated renewals for 90-day certificates. As shorter lifespans become the norm, Sectigo ACME CaaS ensures continuous protection and compliance without the need for manual intervention, keeping your encryption strong and always up to date.
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Scale with Growth
Managing certificates (whether it’s 1 certificate or 1,000 certificates) doesn’t have to be complex. Sectigo ACME CaaS streamlines SSL deployment and lifecycle management, allowing you to scale effortlessly. Automate issuance, renewal, and revocation without increasing workload.
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Easy Setup & Integration
Deploy SSL certificates effortlessly with step-by-step installation guidance tailored to your server environment and web server software. Just choose your website’s technical environment and we’ll walk you through a simple process to get your SSL certificate installed with just a few commands—no manual configuration.
Sectigo Certificate-as-a-Service is compatible with many different server/hosting environments, including:
- Web Servers - Compatible with web servers running NGINX, Apache, IIS, Caddy, and more
- VPS/Cloud Hostings – Works with any VPS hosting plan that provides you root/admin access, including AWS EC2, AWS Lightsail, DigitalOcean, Google Cloud Compute, Azure VM, GoDaddy VPS, Linode, and many others
- Containers - Works with Docker and Kubernetes
- Web Hosting Control Panels - Works with cPanel and Plesk (your hosting plan must enable SSH access)
Maximize efficiency, unlock revenue growth
We provide a powerful API that empowers our resellers to automate ACME and resell certificates with exceptional efficiency and ease.
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What is Sectigo ACME Certificate as a Service (CaaS), and how is it different from traditional SSL certificates?
Sectigo ACME CaaS is a subscription-based service that automates SSL/TLS certificate management using the ACME protocol. It allows businesses to issue, renew, and manage SSL certificates automatically, without manual installation or expiration tracking.
Unlike traditional SSL certificates, which require manual reissues, renewals, and installation, Sectigo ACME CaaS provides continuous protection through automated renewals. This helps reduce downtime risks, operational workload, and human error.
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How does ACME CaaS work?
Once your subscription is active and the required domain is added, you can connect your ACME client to Sectigo using the provided ACME credentials. Your ACME client will then:
- request a certificate from Sectigo,
- complete domain validation automatically,
- download the issued certificate,
- install it on the server,
- and renew it automatically before expiration.
This process repeats automatically during the active subscription period.
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Which ACME clients are supported?
Sectigo ACME CaaS is compatible with any ACME-compatible client, including:
- Certbot – Recommended for Linux, Windows, and macOS environments
- acme.sh – A shell-based client suitable for advanced users
- Posh-ACME– Ideal for Windows PowerShell users
- win-acme – For Windows/IIS environments
- cert-manager – Designed for Kubernetes-based environments
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Can I use Sectigo ACME CaaS without an ACME client?
>No, Sectigo CaaS requires an ACME client for certificate issuance and management. Customers who need manual SSL installation should consider traditional SSL products.
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Do I need full administrative access to my server or hosting environment?
In most cases, to use Sectigo ACME CaaS, you need administrative (root or sudo) access to your web server or cloud environment to install and manage SSL certificates. This service is best suited for:
- Self-hosted servers (Apache, NGINX, IIS)
- Cloud environments (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- Kubernetes deployments
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Can I use Sectigo ACME CaaS on shared hosting?
You can use Sectigo ACME CaaS if your hosting provider offers:
- SSH access – Needed to run ACME clients like Certbot or acme.sh.
- Custom SSL installation – Your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel, Plesk) allows you to upload SSL certificates.
- Cron jobs or scheduled tasks – Enables automated ACME renewals.
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You can use Sectigo ACME CaaS if your hosting provider offers:
- SSH access – Needed to run ACME clients like Certbot or acme.sh.
- Custom SSL installation – Your hosting control panel (e.g., cPanel, Plesk) allows you to upload SSL certificates.
- Cron jobs or scheduled tasks – Enables automated ACME renewals.
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What does “billing per domain” mean?
Billing is based on each domain, subdomain, or wildcard that you add to the ACME subscription. Examples:
- example.com = 1 billable domain ( www is included by default)
- app.example.com = 1 billable domain
- api.example.com = 1 billable domain
- *.example.com = 1 billable wildcard domain
This means you are not charged per certificate issuance or per renewal. You are charged for each domain item added to the subscription.
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What does “Unlimited Server Licensing” mean?
Unlimited Server Licensing means that the same subscribed domain can be used on unlimited servers, nodes, containers, or environments without any extra server-based fee. Each server can run its own ACME client and request its own certificate for the same domain.
You pay per added domain, not per server.
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Can I add many domains to one ACME subscription?
Yes. You can add multiple domains and subdomains within the ACME subscription model. However, each added domain or wildcard is billed separately. So you do not need a separate product account for each domain, but each added item remains a separate billable domain entry.
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Is the certificate valid for 1 year? Why do I receive a 90-day certificate if I paid for 1 year?
The subscription is usually valid for 1 year, but the individual certificates issued through ACME are short-lived, typically around 90 days.
This is normal ACME behavior. Instead of one long-lived certificate, the ACME client automatically replaces the certificate before it expires.
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Are setup guides available?
Yes. We provide setup guides for many common server types, control panels, and ACME environments. You can view our ACME setup manuals here