{"id":122741,"date":"2025-03-24T05:41:23","date_gmt":"2025-03-24T09:41:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/?p=122741"},"modified":"2025-03-31T05:45:54","modified_gmt":"2025-03-31T09:45:54","slug":"public-vs-private-certifications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/jumpcloud.com\/blog\/public-vs-private-certifications","title":{"rendered":"Public vs. Private Certs: What’s the Difference?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Digital certificates play a key role in securing modern IT systems. They are the foundation of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)<\/a>, making secure communication, authentication, and data integrity possible. However, not all certificates work the same way. IT professionals often need to decide whether to use public or private certificates for their security requirements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Knowing the difference between these two types is essential for setting up trust models, configuring IT systems, and deploying them correctly. This guide breaks down the key differences, when to use each type, and the best practices for managing public and private certificates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A public certificate is a digital certificate issued by a trusted, third-party certificate authority (CA), such as DigiCert, GlobalSign, or Let’s Encrypt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public certificates are ideal when your trust model involves external entities that need immediate verification and compatibility.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A private certificate is issued by an organization’s internal private certificate authority (CA) or enterprise PKI system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Private certificates are best suited for controlled, internal environments where trust can be explicitly established and maintained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Consider public certificates when the goal is to secure public-facing systems or APIs where trust from external users is critical:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Private certificates shine in environments where security and control are paramount, but public exposure is unnecessary:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Selecting the wrong type of certificate can lead to significant security and operational risks:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Effective lifecycle management and adherence to security best practices are essential for minimizing risks. The following strategies can enhance your organization’s certificate management processes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Navigating the complexities of public and private certificates can be daunting, but with the right tools, your organization can streamline the process and prioritize security.<\/p>\n\n\n\n 探花大神 simplifies certificate management by centralizing identity and access controls within a single platform:<\/p>\n\n\n\n With 探花大神, IT teams can ensure secure, frictionless access while maintaining compliance across diverse environments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Try a guided simulation<\/a> of 探花大神’s capabilities or contact our sales team<\/a> to see how we can support your security and certificate management needs.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Public and private certs serve different purposes. Learn which to use, how to manage them, and security risks to avoid in enterprise environments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":120,"featured_media":118269,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_oasis_is_in_workflow":0,"_oasis_original":0,"_oasis_task_priority":"","inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[23],"tags":[],"collection":[2775],"platform":[],"funnel_stage":[3016],"coauthors":[2537],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhat Is a Public Certificate?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Key Characteristics of Public Certificates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Common Applications<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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What Is a Private Certificate?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Key Characteristics of Private Certificates<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Common Applications<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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When to Use Public vs. Private Certificates<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Feature<\/strong><\/td> Public Certificate<\/strong><\/td> Private Certificate<\/strong><\/td><\/tr> Issuer<\/strong><\/td> External CA (DigiCert, Let\u2019s Encrypt, GlobalSign)<\/td> Internal CA (Active Directory Certificate Services, OpenSSL)<\/td><\/tr> Trust<\/strong><\/td> Trusted by browsers & public systems<\/td> Trusted only within an internal network<\/td><\/tr> Use Case<\/strong><\/td> Websites, SaaS, APIs, email security<\/td> Internal authentication, VPNs, DevOps, IoT<\/td><\/tr> Cost<\/strong><\/td> May require purchase, some free (Let\u2019s Encrypt)<\/td> No CA fees but requires internal management<\/td><\/tr> Management Complexity<\/strong><\/td> Automated issuance & renewal via ACME<\/td> Requires internal CA, policies, and maintenance<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n When to Use a Public Certificate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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When to Use a Private Certificate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Risks of Using the Wrong Type of Certificate<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Managing Certificate Lifecycles & Security Best Practices<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Automate Certificate Issuance & Renewal<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Enforce Strong Encryption & Key Management<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Monitor & Audit Certificate Usage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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Secure Your Organization with 探花大神<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Explore More<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n