Automating Let’s Encrypt for 10,000 domains at a global MSP
Managing SSL certificates across a massive, globally distributed infrastructure is a complex challenge, especially when dealing with multiple tenants, strict SLAs, and a variety of web server environments. In this case study, we explore how Systech, a global Managed Service Provider (MSP), transformed their certificate management from a spreadsheet-driven nightmare into a streamlined, automated process using Certinite.
The Challenge: Spreadsheet-Driven Chaos
Before adopting Certinite, Systech managed SSL certificates for over 10,000 domains using a combination of manual tracking, calendar reminders, and disconnected spreadsheets. The consequences of this approach were severe:
- Weekend Firefights: Expiring certificates often led to unexpected downtime, triggering emergency response protocols over the weekend.
- Audit Complexity: Proving compliance and tracking the lifecycle of thousands of certificates across different tenants was a slow, error-prone task.
- High Operational Overhead: Engineers spent countless hours manually generating CSRs, completing validation, and binding certificates to IIS and Nginx servers.
The Solution: Tenant-Scoped Automation
Systech needed a solution that could scale with their infrastructure while maintaining strict tenant isolation. They deployed Certinite to orchestrate Let's Encrypt automation across their entire fleet.
1. Repeatable Agent Installs
Systech integrated the Certinite agent into their standard server provisioning pipeline. Whether deploying a Windows Server with IIS or a Linux host with Nginx, the agent installation became a single, repeatable step. This eliminated the configuration drift and privilege risks associated with deploying full ACME clients on every edge node.
2. Tenant-Scoped Workspaces
As an MSP, Systech serves hundreds of distinct clients. Certinite's workspace architecture allowed them to create logical boundaries for each customer. Agents and domains were scoped to specific tenants, ensuring that an issue in one environment would never spill over into another. This tenant isolation was crucial for passing security audits and maintaining trust with their clients.
3. Proactive Renewal Signals
With Certinite's control plane orchestrating the renewals, Systech transitioned from reactive firefighting to proactive management. The platform handled HTTP-01 validation and certificate binding automatically. Instead of relying on manual calendar reminders, the operations team received structured signals and health statuses in a centralized dashboard.
The Results: Zero Weekend Incidents
The impact of automating certificate lifecycle management was immediate and profound:
- Zero Weekend Outages: Automated renewals eliminated the human error that previously caused surprise certificate expirations.
- Simplified Audits: Structured job histories and clear tenant boundaries made compliance audits straightforward and transparent.
- Massive Time Savings: The engineering team reclaimed hundreds of hours previously spent on manual certificate tasks, allowing them to focus on higher-value infrastructure projects.
By leveraging Certinite, Systech proved that managing 10,000+ domains doesn't require a small army of engineers. With the right orchestration and edge automation, SSL management can fade into the background as a reliable, boringly predictable utility.