The key principles behind Let’s Encrypt are:
- Free: Anyone who owns a domain can get a certificate validated for that domain at zero cost.
- Automatic: The entire enrollment process for certificates occurs painlessly during the server’s native installation or configuration process, while renewal occurs automatically in the background.
- Secure: Let’s Encrypt serves as a platform for implementing modern security techniques and best practices.
- Transparent: All records of certificate issuance and revocation are available to anyone who wishes to inspect them. Twice annually a Legal Transparency report will be published to ensure users have visibility regarding legal requests.
- Open: The automated issuance and renewal protocol is an open standard and as much of the software as possible will be open source.
- Cooperative: Much like the underlying Internet protocols themselves, Let’s Encrypt is a joint effort to benefit the entire community, beyond the control of any one organization.
LET’S ENCRYPT Success:
- In November 2014 Let’s Encrypt was launched and in September 2015 Let’s Encrypt entered their beta period. By March of 2016 Let’s Encrypt had issued its millionth certificate and had secured over 2.4 million domains.
- Through April 1, 2016 when the beta ended Let’s Encrypt issued 1.7 million certificates for more than 3.8 million websites.
- Since leaving beta, support for the effort has also grown. Cisco and Akamai have renewed their Platinum sponsorships with 3-year commitments. Facebook has joined as a Gold sponsor along with IdenTrust, Internet Society and Gemalto. HP Enterprise, Fastly, Shopfiy, Automattic, and ReliableSite.net and many others have joined the ranks of over 20 silver sponsors.
