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Jisc Certificate Service

Secure your online services with confidence

Introduction:

Online security has never been so important…  Protecting corporate data from rising numbers of cyberattacks should be the top priority of every organisation. 

A crucial layer of cyber security is achieved through digital certificates.  They help keep your web and email services secure and allow you to send confidential data safely via the internet. 

The Jisc Certificate Service provides UK higher education and research institutions with a cost-effective solution for securing their online services. This factsheet outlines the key features, benefits, and how to get started with the service. 

Benefits:

  • Cost-Effective: Reduced costs compared to commercial providers. 
  • Trustworthy: Certificates from a trusted, recognized authority. 
  • Support: Dedicated support from Jisc Service Desk Team. 
  • Simplified Management: Easy management and renewal of certificates through a centralized platform. 

Pricing: 

Usage class 

Number of certificates 

Price for Jisc members1 

Price for non-Jisc members 

Extra small 

0-3 

Free 

£250 + VAT 

Small 

4-39 

£500 + VAT 

£750 + VAT 

Medium 

40-149 

£2,000 + VAT 

£2,250 + VAT 

Large 

150-499 

£5,000 + VAT 

£5,250 + VAT 

Ultra 

500+ 

£10,000 + VAT 

£10,250 + VAT 

Types of Certificates:

  • Standard SSL Certificates: Basic encryption for websites. 
  • Wildcard Certificates: Secure multiple subdomains with a single certificate. 
  • Extended Validation (EV) Certificates: Highest level of trust with rigorous validation. 
  • Code Signing Certificates: Ensure the authenticity and integrity of software by allowing developers to digitally sign their code, providing users with confidence that the software has not been tampered with. 
  • Client (SMIMEs) Certificates: Provide email encryption and authentication, ensuring secure communication and verifying the identity of the sender. 

Example of Certificate Usage for a Higher Education Institution: 

· Main organisation website, Intranet, Email servers, HR system, Student record system, Room booking, Library management systems, Timetabling systems, VLE, Halls of residence booking systems, Payment systems, E-portfolio systems, Code management systems, Publication management systems, Print management systems, Student apps, Student union apps, Blogs, Authentication systems. 

How it works?

  • Enrollment: Organisations register for the service through the Jisc website. 
  • Validation: Jisc and Sectigo verifies the organisations details. 
  • Requesting Certificates: Submit a certificate request through the Jisc portal. 
  • Issuance: Certificates are issued and can be installed on servers. 
  • Renewal: Automated reminders and easy renewal process. 

Secure your online services with the Jisc Certificate Service, providing reliable and cost-effective SSL/TLS certificates for UK educational and research institutions. Visit our additional resources for more details and to register for the service. 

What is ACME?

  • What is it? The Automated Certificate Management Environment protocol (ACME) is a protocol for automating certificate lifecycle management communications between Certificate Authorities (CAs) and a company’s web servers, email systems, user devices, and any other place Public Key Infrastructure certificates (PKI) are used. 
  • Why is this beneficial? It can save your IT team time and headaches when trying to configure and execute certificate management, as they won’t need to remember to manually renew a certificate – it will arrive straight in their inbox ready for implementation · For more info: https://sectigo.com/resource-library/what-is-acme-protocol 

Contacts:

Additional Resources:

Last Updated 14/10/2024