Newfold Digital picks DigiCert for Bluehost SSL services

Newfold Digital has selected DigiCert to provide SSL/TLS certificate infrastructure for its Bluehost and Network Solutions businesses under an agreement covering services used by about 6 million customers.

The move comes as hosting providers prepare for a sharp reduction in the lifespan of public SSL certificates, set to fall from 398 days to 47 days by 2029. That shift is expected to increase the operational burden on companies managing certificates across large numbers of customer domains.

Under the agreement, DigiCert will handle certificate issuance and fulfilment across Newfold's businesses. The arrangement covers standard SSL/TLS products sold through Bluehost and Network Solutions, including domain validation, organisation validation, extended validation, wildcard and multi-domain certificates.

For Newfold, the change affects a large installed base. The transition is not expected to disrupt existing customers, and certificates already in use will remain valid until they are renewed or reissued. New purchases, renewals and reissues will move to DigiCert.

The partnership reflects a broader issue for web hosts and domain service providers. SSL and TLS certificates are a routine part of running websites and online services, but shorter renewal cycles mean providers must automate more of the process to avoid service interruptions and reduce manual administration.

Newfold's portfolio includes Bluehost, Network Solutions, HostGator, Crazy Domains, Yoast and YITH. With millions of customers across hosting, domains and related web services, certificate management is a core part of the security systems behind those brands.

DigiCert says it is used by more than 125,000 organisations, including more than 90% of the Fortune 500. By choosing a provider that already serves large corporate customers, Newfold is seeking to update the systems behind its consumer and small business hosting operations as industry requirements change.

Changing standards

The backdrop to the deal extends beyond certificate lifespan rules. Companies handling internet trust services are also preparing for the effects of growing automation in online interactions and the longer-term transition to post-quantum cryptography, intended to protect systems against attacks from future quantum computers.

That combination is pushing providers to review infrastructure that has often operated in the background of hosting services. While end users may see SSL certificates mainly as browser padlock icons or website validation tools, issuing, renewing and replacing them at scale has become more complex.

Sachin Puri, Chief Executive Officer of Bluehost Group and Network Solutions Group, said the deal would bring the level of trust services used by large institutions to smaller companies.

"Small businesses deserve a foundation for digital trust backed by the expertise that leading banks and global enterprises rely on. Trust is fundamental to their reputation and growth. Partnering with DigiCert brings that expertise to our SSL/TLS offerings, helping make online security simpler and more dependable so business owners can focus on serving their customers - not navigating the complexity of changing security standards," said Sachin Puri, Chief Executive Officer of Bluehost Group and Network Solutions Group.

Scale challenge

For DigiCert, the agreement adds a large hosting customer at a time when certificate lifecycle management is becoming a more prominent operational issue for internet infrastructure providers. Its role will extend beyond issuing certificates, as shorter validity periods place more emphasis on renewals and automated handling.

Dave Packer, Chief Revenue Officer at DigiCert, said hosting companies face a trust management challenge that most small businesses never directly encounter.

"Hosting providers operate trust infrastructure at a scale most small businesses never see and should never have to manage themselves. Newfold is taking a forward-looking approach by building on a platform designed to manage shorter certificate lifecycles at scale and adapt as AI and post-quantum cryptography reshape digital trust. Together, we're making enterprise-grade trust more accessible to millions of businesses without adding complexity to their day-to-day operations," said Dave Packer, Chief Revenue Officer at DigiCert.