There are a few other catches. For example, you need to be able to run an
appropriate ACME client and set up automatic certificate renewal since the
maximum length you can get is 90 days. You also can't get wildcard
certificates which makes doing things like proxying by host name (e.g.
ezproxy). Your organization might also care if you bypass their process for
getting domain names.

kyle

On Mon, Jun 19, 2017 at 5:41 AM, Jonathan Rochkind <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

> Here's a thread about per-TLD rate limits being a problem for universities;
> it seems per a post at the end of that thread that letsencrypt might exempt
> your institution from ratelimits, but an official agent of the university
> needs to submit the request:
>
> https://community.letsencrypt.org/t/rate-limiting-at-an-
> educational-institution/5910/24
>
>
>
> On Mon, Jun 19, 2017 at 8:27 AM, Kyle Breneman <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > Thanks for that detailed and interesting reply, Jonathan.
> >
> > On Sun, Jun 18, 2017 at 12:35 PM, Jonathan Rochkind <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Just to clarify, by "Commercial certificates offer stronger proof of
> > > identity", you mean an "Extended Validation" (EV) certificate.
> > > https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Extended_Validation_Certificate
> > >
> > > If you are getting a 'commercial certificate' that is a standard
> 'domain
> > > validated' cert instead of an EV cert, you are not getting any stronger
> > > proof of identity than you would from letsencrypt.
> > >
> > > The cert used at https://www.ubalt.edu does NOT appear to be an EV
> cert,
> > > but an ordinary domain validated one. (Additionally, that particular
> web
> > > page serves http: images , triggering browser mixed content warnings!).
> > >
> > > Same thing for the cert at https://langsdale.ubalt.edu/.
> > >
> > > Looking at another Maryland public university: https://umd.edu/
> appears
> > > similar. NOT an EV cert, and additionally serving http assets
> triggering
> > a
> > > mixed content warning.
> > >
> > > I'm actually having trouble finding an academic institution, or even a
> > > standard ecommerce site, that DOES use an EV cert.
> > >
> > > You can tell it's an EV cert when chrome or Firefox put the name of the
> > > organization in the location bar to the left of URL. Additionally, in
> > > Firefox, if you click that name, then click the right-chevron 'more
> info'
> > > icon, then click "More information", under "Website Identity" it will
> > list
> > > an "Owner:" for an EV cert. For an ordinary domain-validated cert, it
> > will
> > > list "This website does not supply ownership information" instead.
> > >
> > > Here's an example of an EV cert, the cert on digicert.com, a seller of
> > > certs:
> > >
> > > https://www.digicert.com/
> > >
> > > If your cert is not EV but is just "domain validated", then despite it
> > > being "commercial" it supplies the same level of proof of identity as a
> > > letsencrypt cert -- proof of control of the domain at the time the cert
> > was
> > > issued, either way.
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > On Sat, Jun 17, 2017 at 1:53 PM, Cary Gordon <[log in to unmask]>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > We are starting to roll out LetsEncrypt for all of our services and
> > > > clients who do not use or want commercial certificates.
> > > >
> > > > Note that LetsEncrypt offers only domain authentication, in most
> cases
> > > > specifically validated by your control of the server. Commercial
> > > > certificates offer stronger proof of identity.
> > > >
> > > > We recommend commercial certificates for any sites that conduct
> > financial
> > > > transactions or require HIPPA compliance.
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > >
> > > > Cary
> > > >
> > > > Cary Gordon
> > > > The Cherry Hill Company
> > > > http://chillco.com
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > > On Jun 16, 2017, at 12:34 PM, Kyle Breneman (via lita-l Mailing
> > List) <
> > > > [log in to unmask]> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > Apologies for cross-posting...
> > > > >
> > > > > Anyone out there working at a public institution that's using Let's
> > > > Encrypt for security certificates? I just suggested to our campus IT
> > > that
> > > > we switch to using Let's Encrypt. They told me it would need to
> clear
> > > > State of Maryland approval process first, and suggested that it would
> > be
> > > > helpful to be able to point to other public institutions that are
> using
> > > it.
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards,
> > > > > Kyle Breneman
> > > > > Integrated Digital Services Librarian
> > > > > University of Baltimore
> > > > >
> > > > > To maximize your use of LITA-L or to unsubscribe, see
> > > > http://www.ala.org/lita/involve/email
> > > >
> > >
> >
>