The Process to Replace a Revoked SSL Certificate

The Process to Replace a Revoked SSL Certificate

When an SSL certificate is revoked, it's crucial to replace it promptly to maintain the security and trust of your website. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to replace a revoked SSL certificate:

1. Generate a New Certificate Signing Request (CSR):
   To replace a revoked SSL/TLS certificate, you'll need to generate a new CSR. This is a unique, encrypted block of text containing information about your site that the Certificate Authority (CA) needs to issue a new SSL certificate. It includes your domain name, your organization name, and geographic information .
2. Purchase and Activate a New SSL Certificate:
   With your CSR generated, you can now purchase a new SSL certificate from your CA or another provider of your choice. Follow the prompts and supply all the requested information, including the CSR you acquired in the previous step .
3. Complete Domain Control Validation (DCV):
   Activating your SSL certificate doesn’t protect your site just yet. There’s another validation step before your new certificate can take effect. Domain control validation (DCV) is one more protective measure taken by your CA to ensure that you are who you say you are, and that you own the domain you’re requesting protection for .
4. Complete Organization Validation:
   If the organization validation has expired, DigiCert must complete the organization validation before they can reissue the certificate .
5. Install Your New SSL Certificate:
   Once the validation process is complete and you have received your new certificate, install it on your server. Follow the server software's instructions to install it correctly. Check that all pages on your website show "https" and a padlock in the browser address bar to confirm successful installation .
6. Monitor and Approve the Reissue:
   Once the certificate re-issue is requested, the certificate authority will send you a link to validate the certificate. It's important to monitor the approval email inbox and click on the link contained in the email sent from the Certificate Authority to validate and approve the reissue .
7. Replace the Certificate on Your Server:
   After receiving your reissued certificate and private key, replace the existing certificate on your server. The old certificate will stay active until the expiration date, but it's recommended to replace it as soon as possible to avoid any security risks associated with the revoked certificate .
8. Test Your Website:
   After installing the new certificate, test your website to ensure that the SSL certificate is working correctly and that there are no errors. Use online SSL checkers to verify the installation and check the certificate's details .

By following these steps, you can replace a revoked SSL certificate and ensure that your website remains secure and trusted by your visitors. Remember, the process may vary slightly depending on your specific Certificate Authority and server configuration, so always refer to the documentation provided by your CA and hosting provider for detailed instructions.