HTTPS, which supports website safety, uses SSL/TLS protocol SSL certificate authentication technology. Let’s Encrypt, which issues these SSL certificates for free, attracted attention by announcing that the number of SSL certificates issued so far exceeded 1 billion.
Let’s Encrypt has supported the introduction of HTTPS by issuing SSL certificates for free so far. HTTPS using SSL certificates was spread only 64% of the world’s websites in 2017, but it has risen to 81% as of February 2020. Google Chrome browsers are also encouraging many people to provide secure communications with guaranteed privacy, such as marking unprotected sites via HTTPS as unsafe.
In addition, with the explosion of HTTPS, the number of websites that Let’s Encrypt provides services has quadrupled from 46 million in 2017 to 192 million. However, the size of the Let’s Encrypt organization has increased from 11 to 13 full-time employees, and the annual budget has increased from $2.61 million to $3.35 million, indicating that it has responded efficiently to service expansion.
It is the protocol called ACME that supports Let’s Encrypt’s efficient certificate. ACME is a protocol that automates the mutual processes of web server certification authorities. Since it was standardized as RFC 8555 in 2019, it has become easier for the website-related community to build an ecosystem using ACME. Let’s Encrypt is also focusing on developing certificate issuing client software (Certbot).
Let’s Encrypt, emphasizing that it has issued 1 billion certificates is affirming all progress for the community, said let’s build a secure and privacy-conscious website together. Related information can be found here .