SSL/TLS certificate validity periods

SSL/TLS certificates secure communication between your website and visitors. Each certificate has a validity periodthe length of time it remains active before requiring renewal. Understanding these limits helps you avoid service interruptions and browser warnings.

Current Industry Standards

SSL/TLS certificates cannot be issued for longer than 13 months (397 days).
This standard was introduced to improve security by ensuring certificates are renewed more frequently.
Most certificates are issued for 1 year at a time.

How WHM Handles Validity Periods

WHM/cPanel automatically removes any certificate that exceeds the 13‑month limit.
When removed, WHM replaces it with a Sectigo SSL certificate to maintain security.
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

Always issue certificates with a maximum validity of 13 months.
Renew certificates before expiration to avoid downtime.
Use WHM’s SSL/TLS → Manage SSL Certificates to monitor expiry dates.
Consider enabling auto‑renewal for certificates purchased through Ruachost.