To re-issue your SSL certificate is to request a modified copy of the certificate file, whereas renewing a certificate creates a new certificate file to replace the expiring file. So why use re-issue instead of renewal?
Reasons to re-issue your certificate:
- If a certificate's private key is compromised - re-issue the certificate with a new CSR, creating a secure replacement copy of the certificate.
- If the certificate switches to a new or additional server(s) - re-issue rather than copying the private key between servers.
- Adding domains/sub-domains (SANS) for multi-domain certificates – re-issue and add the new domains in the new CSR.
- Get Unlimited Certificate Re-issues free of cost when you buy from us.
Whether you renew or re-issue, there may be additional steps required to activate the certificate. Each Certificate Authority has its own policy governing DCV after re-issuance.
- For Sectigo, if you re-issue with the same CSR, DCV isn’t necessary with a previously validated domain, but with a new CSR, the domain owner must perform DCV.
- In the case of DigiCert (RapidSSL, Thawte, GeoTrust), certificates need DCV with every re-issuance.
Anytime you re-issue a single year certificate, you will receive the validity left on the original certificate.
After re-issuance, the previous copy of the certificate will be revoked, so you will need to replace the SSL certificate file on your web server/hosting as soon as possible after receiving the new file.
For more information on SSL certificate re-issuance visit this page.
