SSL/TLS certificates secure communication between your website and visitors. Each certificate has a validity period the length of time it remains active before requiring renewal. Understanding these limits helps you avoid service interruptions and browser warnings.
Current Industry Standards
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SSL/TLS certificates cannot be issued for longer than 13 months (397 days).
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This standard was introduced to improve security by ensuring certificates are renewed more frequently.
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Most certificates are issued for 1 year at a time.
How WHM Handles Validity Periods
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WHM/cPanel automatically removes any certificate that exceeds the 13‑month limit.
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When removed, WHM replaces it with a Sectigo SSL certificate to maintain security.
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Example: Cloudflare origin certificates expire after 15 years by default. These will be replaced automatically in WHM to comply with the 13‑month rule.
Best Practices
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Always issue certificates with a maximum validity of 13 months.
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Renew certificates before expiration to avoid downtime.
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Use WHM’s SSL/TLS → Manage SSL Certificates to monitor expiry dates.
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Consider enabling auto‑renewal for certificates purchased through Ruachost.
Notes
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