Let’s Encrypt is a free, automated, and open certificate authority (CA), run for the public’s benefit. Let’s Encrypt is a service provided by the Internet Security Research Group (ISRG).
The key principles behind Let’s Encrypt are:
- Free: Anyone who owns a domain name can use Let’s Encrypt to obtain a trusted certificate at zero cost.
- Automatic: Software running on a web server can interact with Let’s Encrypt to painlessly obtain a certificate, securely configure it for use, and automatically take care of renewal.
- Secure: Let’s Encrypt will serve as a platform for advancing TLS security best practices, both on the CA side and by helping site operators properly secure their servers.
- Transparent: All certificates issued or revoked will be publicly recorded and available for anyone to inspect.
- Open: The automatic issuance and renewal protocol will be published as an open standard that others can adopt.
- Cooperative: Much like the underlying Internet protocols themselves, Let’s Encrypt is a joint effort to benefit the community, beyond the control of any one organization.
Technical Advisory Board (TAB)
Our TAB consists of technical experts from major supporting organizations, as well as independent experts with strong CA/PKI industry experience.
- Rich Salz (Akamai)
- Joe Hildebrand (Cisco)
- Jacob Hoffman-Andrews (Electronic Frontier Foundation)
- J.C. Jones (Mozilla)
- Russ Housley (Independent)
- Ryan Hurst (Independent)
- Stephen Kent (Independent)
- Karen O’Donoghue (Internet Society)