Let's Encrypt is a groundbreaking nonprofit Certificate Authority (CA) that has revolutionized web security by providing free TLS certificates. Here are its key features and benefits:
- Free SSL/TLS Certificates: Issues certificates at no cost, making HTTPS accessible to everyone
- Automated Process: Fully automated certificate issuance and renewal through the ACME protocol
- Wide Adoption: Serves over 700 million websites globally
- Open Standards: Supports ACME protocol (RFC 9773) for automated certificate management
- Native Integration: Supported by major web servers including recent native NGINX integration
- Community-Driven: Strong community support through forums and open-source contributions
- Trusted Authority: Operated by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG), a respected nonprofit
- Regular Updates: Continuous improvements in security standards and protocols
Let's Encrypt is ideal for:
- Website owners needing SSL/TLS certificates
- Developers implementing HTTPS
- Organizations managing multiple domains
- Anyone seeking to improve web security
