Last updated on January 13, 2026
NOTE: Shorter certificate lifespans are coming as theCA/Browser Forum has approved a phased reduction in maximum certificate validity.
- March 15, 2026: The maximum lifespan for many certificates will be reduced to 200 days.
- March 15, 2027: Further reduction to 100 days.
- March 15, 2029: The maximum lifespan will be reduced to 47 days.
Please see: https://kb.wisc.edu/sslservercerts/156631
SSL/TLS certificates allow secure communication between devices on the internet. They are used to encrypt data sent to and from websites, which helps to protect users’ privacy and build trust in the website.
UW–Madison participates in the InCommon Certificate Service, which entitles campus staff to obtain server (SSL/TLS) certificates at no cost.
By default, domains under wisc.edu, and wisconsin.edu are available. For other domains read about DCV.
Getting started
Request a certificate for domains under wisc.edu, and wisconsin.edu.
To request a certificate for another domain, see our frequently asked questions.
Terms of use
Certificates issued by InCommon/Sectigo are currently valid for 1 year but a phased reduction in maximum certificate validity for all certificate authorities is coming.
We strongly recommend customers who are manually renewing certificates to configure ACME, to automatically issue and renew certificates.
Pricing
No cost to campus staff.
Available to
- UW-Madison and Universities of Wisconsin Campus Staff