Here’s how shorter code signing certificate lifespans impact your organization.
What Does This Mean for Your Business?
Effective March 1, 2026, the maximum validity period for code signing certificates issued by SSL is being reduced from up to 39 months to 458 days.
- You will have to renew more often – Where a code signing certificate might previously have lasted close to three years before requiring renewal, you should now expect your team to renew approximately annually . You will need to account for this change in your security budgeting and operational workflows.
- Your software and applications are not at risk – Certificates you have today continue to work. End users will not experience any change, and your our signed software will remain trusted.
- More frequent certificate rotation aligns with modern security best practices – The global software industry is moving toward a model in which digital credentials are shorter-lived.
Why Is This Happening?
Think of it this way: A certificate that’s been active for three years is like a hotel key card that was issued years ago and never deactivated. It might still work, but the longer it’s out there, the more risk it carries. Shortening the validity period is a proactive way to keep that risk window more secure.
The CA/Browser Forum (the governing body that sets the rules for all trusted Certificate Authorities) passed Ballot CSC-31 specifically to strengthen the overall security of the software ecosystem. It’s an industry-wide requirement that every trusted CA must comply with, as shorter certificate lifespans limit the window of opportunity for bad actors to exploit compromised or outdated certificates.
What’s Actually Changing?
Starting March 1, 2026, no Certificate Authority, including SSL, will be permitted to issue a new code signing certificate with a validity period exceeding 460 days.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
- New certificates issued from SSL on or after March 1, 2026, will carry a maximum validity of 458 days.
- Certificates you already have that were issued before that date remain valid and fully trusted until their original expiration date. Nothing breaks or gets revoked.
- When it comes time to renew, your new certificate will simply reflect the new maximum term.
It’s also important to note that this change doesn’t affect how SSL sells or structures its code signing certificate offerings. You’ll still purchase certificates the same way you always have. The only thing changing is the maximum length of each issued certificate.
Are There Actions to Take Right Now?
If you’re an existing SSL.com code signing customer, your current certificates are unaffected. When renewal time comes, your new certificate will simply be issued under the updated 460-day maximum. And our team will be there to make that process as smooth as possible.
If you’re considering purchasing a code signing certificate and want to take advantage of the current maximum validity period before the deadline, now is a good time to reach out. Certificates ordered and issued before March 1, 2026, can still carry the longer validity terms currently in effect.
Going forward, if your team manages multiple code signing certificates or anticipates higher-volume needs, this is a great time to explore certificate lifecycle management tools that can automate tracking and renewals so shorter validity periods don’t translate into additional manual work.
Contact us to reach our support team or speak with sales about our code signing certificate offerings.
