No expiry — keys work forever
Unlike passwords or certificates, SSH keys have no built-in expiry. A key generated years ago works identically today unless manually removed.
SSH Certificate Management
Replace SSH Keys with Short-Lived Certificates
SSH keys never expire, can't be revoked, and create permanent backdoors. SSH certificates expire automatically, provide centralized trust, and eliminate authorized_keys management entirely.
Short-lived certificates with automatic expiry
Centralized SSH Certificate Authority
SSO/IdP integration (Okta, Azure AD, Google)
Principal-based access control
Host certificates (eliminate TOFU)
Complete issuance audit trail
Short-lived certificates with automatic expiry
Centralized SSH Certificate Authority
SSO/IdP integration (Okta, Azure AD, Google)
Principal-based access control
Host certificates (eliminate TOFU)
Complete issuance audit trail
The Problem with SSH Keys
SSH keys are permanent credentials with no lifecycle controls.
Every SSH key is a potential backdoor. They never expire, can't be centrally revoked, have no ownership tracking, and persist long after employees leave.
No centralized revocation
To revoke an SSH key, you must find and remove it from authorized_keys on every server that trusts it.
No offboarding automation
When an employee leaves, their SSH keys remain on servers. Nobody tracks which keys belong to whom.
Lateral movement enabler
Attackers who compromise one server find SSH keys that grant access to other servers — silent, fast lateral movement.
SSH Certificates: The Solution to Key Sprawl
QCecuring SSH Certificate Management operates as a centralized SSH Certificate Authority. Users authenticate via SSO, receive short-lived certificates, and access servers — with automatic expiry and complete audit trail.
Core
Managed SSH Certificate Authority
A centralized CA that issues SSH user and host certificates. Servers trust the CA — not individual keys.
Issue user certificates with configurable validity (8h-30d)Issue host certificates (eliminate known_hosts management)Multiple CA support (per-environment, per-team)
Live Flow
Multiple CA support (per-environment, per-team)
Stage 01
Core
Stage 02
Issue user certificates with configurable validity (8h-30d)
Stage 03
Issue host certificates (eliminate known_hosts management)
Stage 01
Core
Stage 02
Issue user certificates with configurable validity (8h-30d)
Stage 03
Issue host certificates (eliminate known_hosts management)
Preview
A centralized CA that issues SSH user and host certificates. Servers trust the CA — not in…
Identity
SSO-Integrated Certificate Issuance
Users authenticate with their existing SSO identity and receive an SSH certificate tied to their session.
OIDC/SAML integration with any IdPCertificate validity tied to SSO sessionGroup-based principal assignment
Live Flow
Group-based principal assignment
Stage 01
Identity
Stage 02
OIDC/SAML integration with any IdP
Stage 03
Certificate validity tied to SSO session
Stage 01
Identity
Stage 02
OIDC/SAML integration with any IdP
Stage 03
Certificate validity tied to SSO session
Preview
Users authenticate with their existing SSO identity and receive an SSH certificate tied to…
Policy
Principal-Based Access Control
Certificates contain principals (allowed usernames). Control who can access which servers — centrally.
Map IdP groups to SSH principalsPer-team, per-environment access policiesTime-limited access for maintenance windows
Live Flow
Time-limited access for maintenance windows
Stage 01
Policy
Stage 02
Map IdP groups to SSH principals
Stage 03
Per-team, per-environment access policies
Stage 01
Policy
Stage 02
Map IdP groups to SSH principals
Stage 03
Per-team, per-environment access policies
Preview
Certificates contain principals (allowed usernames). Control who can access which servers…
Ready to Eliminate SSH Key Sprawl?
See how short-lived SSH certificates replace permanent keys with auditable, automatically-expiring credentials.
Integrations
View all integrations
→
Works with your existing SSH infrastructure
SSH certificates work with standard OpenSSH (6.5+). No agent installation on servers — just trust the CA.
OpenSSH (all modern versions)
Linux servers (any distribution)
Kubernetes nodes
OpenSSH (all modern versions)
Linux servers (any distribution)
Kubernetes nodes
Identity providers (Okta, Azure AD, Google)
Cloud instances (AWS, Azure, GCP)
CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI)
Identity providers (Okta, Azure AD, Google)
Cloud instances (AWS, Azure, GCP)
CI/CD pipelines (GitHub Actions, GitLab CI)
Platform Overview
Explore capabilities, use cases, governance, and deployment in one place
A structured horizontal accordion designed for enterprise buyers—compact, visual, and easier to scan.
Explore Our Resources & Guides
Learn how SSH certificates replace static keys and provide enterprise-grade access control.
Learn How to Secure Your Assets with QCecuring Solutions
Discover our industry-leading solutions, request a demo, or consult with our experts to strengthen your cryptographic operations.
In-depth Guide
SSH Certificate Management Guide
How to replace SSH keys with short-lived certificates for enterprise access control.
SSH keys are the most widely used — and least managed — credentials in enterprise infrastructure. They never expire, can't be centrally revoked, and persist long after employees leave. SSH certificates solve these fundamental problems by adding expiry, centralized trust, and audit capabilities to SSH authentication.
Why SSH certificates?
SSH certificates are signed by a Certificate Authority and contain: the user's identity, allowed principals (server accounts), validity period, and extensions. Servers trust the CA — not individual keys. When a certificate expires, access ends automatically.
How it works
- User authenticates via SSO (Okta, Azure AD, Google)
- SSH CA issues a short-lived certificate (8-24 hours)
- User connects to servers with the certificate
- Server verifies CA signature and checks validity
- Certificate expires — user must re-authenticate for new access
Migration from SSH keys
Migration is gradual. Servers can accept both keys and certificates simultaneously. Start with one team, prove the model, then expand. Eventually disable key-based authentication entirely.
Benefits
- Automatic expiry (no manual key removal)
- Centralized access control (CA decides who gets access)
- Complete audit trail (every certificate issuance logged)
- SSO integration (MFA inherited from identity provider)
- Instant offboarding (stop issuing certificates = access revoked)
FAQ
SSH Certificate Management FAQ
How are SSH certificates different from SSH keys? +
SSH keys are permanent (no expiry, no revocation). SSH certificates have built-in validity periods, are issued by a trusted CA, and expire automatically. No authorized_keys management needed.
Do I need to install agents on my servers? +
No. SSH certificates work with standard OpenSSH. You only need to add one line to sshd_config (TrustedUserCAKeys) pointing to the CA's public key. No agents, no software installation.
What happens when a certificate expires? +
The user must re-authenticate (via SSO) to get a new certificate. This is automatic and transparent — the SSH client requests a new certificate before the old one expires.
Can I use this alongside existing SSH keys? +
Yes. During migration, servers can accept both certificates and keys simultaneously. Migrate gradually — team by team, server by server — then disable key-based auth when ready.
How does this integrate with my identity provider? +
Users authenticate via OIDC/SAML (Okta, Azure AD, Google). The SSH CA verifies their identity and issues a certificate with principals derived from their IdP group memberships.
Ready to Secure Your Enterprise?
Experience how our cryptographic solutions simplify, centralize, and automate identity management for your entire organization.