Organizational Unit Fields in SSL Certificates

As a leading provider of SSL Certificates, Trustico® is committed to keeping customers informed about important industry changes.

The Certificate Authority/Browser (CA/B) Forum has implemented the removal of Organizational Unit (OU) fields from SSL Certificates, and Trustico® is here to guide organizations through this transition with our comprehensive SSL Certificate solutions.

Understanding the OU Field Changes

The OU field in SSL Certificates has traditionally allowed organizations to specify internal departments or divisions.

However, to enhance security and standardization, this field has been deprecated from all newly-issued SSL Certificates. Trustico® offers both Trustico® branded and Sectigo® branded SSL Certificates that align with these current industry standards.

This change affects all types of SSL Certificates including Organization Validated (OV) and Extended Validation (EV) SSL Certificates. Trustico® ensures all our SSL Certificates comply with the latest CA/B Forum requirements while maintaining the highest levels of security and trust.

The CA/B Forum's decision to remove the OU field stems from security concerns regarding the validation of this information.

Historically, the OU field was not consistently validated across Certificate Authorities (CA), creating potential opportunities for misrepresentation. By removing this field, the industry has enhanced the overall reliability and trustworthiness of SSL Certificate information.

According to the CA/B Forum Ballot SC47, Certificate Authorities ceased including OU fields in newly-issued SSL Certificates as of September 1, 2022.

Existing SSL Certificates containing OU fields remain valid until their expiration, but renewals are subject to the new standards. Trustico® has aligned our issuance processes with these requirements to ensure a smooth transition for our customers.

Historical Context of the OU Field

The Organizational Unit field has been a standard component of X.509 SSL Certificates since their inception, originally designed to reflect organizational hierarchy within the Distinguished Name (DN) structure.

Many organizations have historically used this field to indicate departments, business units, or geographic locations within their SSL Certificate management practices.

Common uses of the OU field included identifying specific departments responsible for SSL Certificate management (e.g., "IT Security" or "Infrastructure"), distinguishing between production and test environments, or indicating geographic regions.

While these practices provided organizational convenience, they were not subject to rigorous validation by Certificate Authorities (CA).

The evolution toward removing the OU field represents part of the broader industry trend toward more strictly validated SSL Certificate information. Trustico® supports this evolution as it enhances the overall security and reliability of the SSL Certificate ecosystem.

Impact on SSL Certificate Management

Organizations that were using the OU field in their SSL Certificates need to adapt to this change.

Trustico® SSL Certificates provide alternative methods for organizational identification that maintain security and clarity without relying on the OU field.

Our SSL Certificate experts can help evaluate your existing SSL Certificates and develop a migration strategy. Trustico® offers a range of SSL Certificate solutions that accommodate various organizational structures while ensuring compliance with current standards.

Organizations that have used the OU field for internal SSL Certificate management and tracking need to implement alternative identification methods. Trustico® recommends utilizing SSL Certificate metadata, implementing robust inventory systems, or leveraging Subject Alternative Name (SAN) fields as compliant alternatives for organizational tracking purposes.

Internal systems and applications that parse or validate SSL Certificate information may require updates to accommodate the absence of OU fields. It is important that organizations identify potentially affected systems and implement necessary modifications to ensure continued functionality.

Alternative Approaches to Department Identification

With the removal of the OU field, organizations need alternative methods to distinguish SSL Certificates across departments or divisions. Trustico® recommends several compliant approaches to maintain organizational clarity in your SSL Certificate management.

SSL Certificate metadata and tagging within management systems offer a powerful alternative to embedding departmental information in SSL Certificates themselves.

For organizations requiring visible differentiation between departments, consider implementing a structured naming convention for the Common Name (CN) or Subject Alternative Name (SAN) fields. While maintaining compliance with domain validation requirements, this approach can incorporate departmental information in a standardized format.

Implementing an SSL Certificate inventory system provides another effective solution.

Transitioning to Modern SSL Certificates

Trustico® recommends a proactive approach to managing this change. Our comprehensive range of SSL Certificates includes options suitable for every business need, from single-domain SSL Certificates to Multi-Domain SSL Certificates and Wildcard SSL Certificates.

Begin by conducting a comprehensive inventory of your existing SSL Certificates to identify those containing OU fields.

Develop a phased migration plan based on SSL Certificate expiration dates and operational priorities. This approach minimizes disruption while ensuring timely compliance with the current standards.

Technical Implications for Systems and Applications

The removal of the OU field has technical implications for systems that interact with SSL Certificate information. Organizations should assess potential impacts on their infrastructure and implement necessary updates to ensure continued functionality.

SSL Certificate pinning implementations that include the OU field in their validation criteria need modification. Trustico® provides technical guidance on updating pinning configurations to use alternative SSL Certificate attributes for validation while maintaining security.

Internal SSL Certificate validation and management processes that check for specific OU values require updates.

SSL Certificate monitoring and management tools may need configuration updates to reflect the absence of OU fields.

Trustico® ordering and management platforms are constantly updated and are fully compatible with SSL Certificate standards such as OU field changes and others as the industry evolves.

Benefits of Trustico® SSL Certificates

By choosing Trustico® as your SSL Certificate provider, you gain access to industry-leading security solutions backed by exceptional support. Our SSL Certificates offer fast issuance, strong encryption, and widespread browser compatibility.

Trustico® SSL Certificates include features like unlimited server licensing, free reissuance, and competitive warranties. Whether you choose Trustico® branded or Sectigo® branded SSL Certificates, you receive the same high level of security and support.

Our SSL Certificates are fully compliant with current and emerging industry standards, including the removal of OU fields. This forward-looking approach ensures that your security infrastructure remains compatible with all major browsers and platforms without requiring frequent adjustments to keep pace with industry changes.

Trustico®'s validation processes are designed for efficiency while maintaining strict compliance with CA/B Forum requirements. This balanced approach minimizes issuance delays while ensuring your SSL Certificates meet all applicable standards for security and trustworthiness.

Implementation Best Practices

When implementing new SSL Certificates without OU fields, organizations should follow industry best practices. Trustico® provides comprehensive documentation and support to ensure proper SSL Certificate installation and configuration.

We work closely with customers to streamline verification process. This ensures rapid SSL Certificate issuance while maintaining strict security standards and compliance requirements.

Consider implementing a management system if you don't already have one. With the removal of embedded organizational information from SSL Certificates, external management becomes increasingly important.

Communication and Training Considerations

Effective communication about SSL Certificate changes is essential for a smooth transition whenever changes occur. Ensure that all stakeholders, including IT teams, security personnel, and application owners, understand the implications of the OU field removal and any new processes being implemented.

Establish communication channels for addressing questions and concerns during this and future transition periods resulting from changes and advancements within the industry. We're available to assist with technical questions and provide guidance.

Ongoing SSL Certificate Management

Effective SSL Certificate management extends beyond initial deployment. Trustico® offers tools and services to help organizations monitor SSL Certificate validity, track expiration dates, and maintain compliance with evolving standards.

Regular SSL Certificate audits and timely renewals are essential for maintaining continuous security coverage. Trustico® provides automated renewal reminders and simplified reissuance processes to prevent SSL Certificate-related outages.

Implement a continuous monitoring system for SSL Certificate compliance with current standards. As the industry evolves, additional changes to SSL Certificate requirements may emerge.

Consider automating SSL Certificate lifecycle management where possible. Automation reduces the risk of human error and ensures timely renewal and deployment of compliant SSL Certificates. Trustico® supports various automation approaches, including API integration with existing systems and automated deployment tools.

Future Industry Trends

The removal of the OU field represents part of a broader trend toward more strictly validated SSL Certificate information. Organizations should anticipate continued evolution in SSL Certificate standards as the industry works to enhance security and trustworthiness.

SSL Certificate validity periods continue to shorten across the industry, with maximum lifespans now typically limited to one year. This trend emphasizes the importance of efficient renewal processes and proactive SSL Certificate management. Trustico® designs our solutions with these trends in mind, helping customers adapt to shorter SSL Certificate lifecycles.

Automation is becoming increasingly essential for effective SSL Certificate management as manual processes struggle to keep pace with shorter validity periods and evolving standards. Trustico® continues to enhance our automation capabilities to help customers maintain efficient SSL Certificate operations.

Trust Trustico® to guide your organization through industry changes - feel free to speak with us to learn more about our secure, standards-compliant offerings.