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What Are ACME-Enabled SSL Certificates?

Written by Garrett Saundry

Overview

ACME-enabled SSL subscriptions simplify SSL certificate management by automating many of the tasks traditionally performed manually, including certificate issuance, validation, renewal, and replacement.

ACME (Automated Certificate Management Environment) is an industry-standard protocol that allows supported software, known as ACME clients, to communicate directly with a Certificate Authority and manage certificates automatically.

The SSL/TLS certificates issued through an ACME-enabled SSL subscription provide the same encryption and browser trust as traditional SSL certificates. The primary difference is how those certificates are managed.

Benefits of ACME

ACME-enabled SSL subscriptions can help:

  • Reduce the risk of expired certificates

  • Eliminate most manual renewal work

  • Simplify certificate deployment

  • Support automated infrastructure and DevOps workflows

  • Streamline management of multiple certificates

Common ACME Deployment Models

Most customers fall into one of four deployment models:

  • Webnames Plesk Hosting

  • Webnames DNS Hosting

  • Third-Party DNS Provider

  • Manual DNS Validation

Getting Started

After purchasing an ACME-enabled SSL subscription:

  1. Retrieve your ACME enrollment details.

  2. Select the setup guide appropriate for your environment.

  3. Configure your ACME client.

  4. Issue your first certificate.

For detailed setup instructions, see the Getting Started guide.

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