SSL Certificates - What’s changing for October 2016

We are seeing some issues in renewing SSL Cert’s for a 3 year period because of some changes that will come into effect as of October 1, 2016. See the excerpt from one of our suppliers below:

Using Intranet and Reserved IP Addresses as the Primary Domain or Subject Alternative Name in SSLs

The Internet security community is phasing out the use of intranet and reserved IP addresses as the Primary Domain Name or the Subject Alternative Name in SSL certificates.

This is an industry-wide decision, not one specific to our company.

An intranet name is any name that is not in the public Internet DNS (e.g.'server1', 'mail', 'www', 'server2.local', etc.). A reserved IP address is any address designated by the Internet Assigned Numbers Authority (IANA) as being reserved.

To create a safer online environment, members of the Certificate Authorities Browser Forum (CA/Browser Forum) worked to define the guidelines and means of implementation of SSL Certificates. As a result of these meetings, effective on October 1, 2016, Certification Authorities (CAs) must revoke any SSL certificates that use intranet names or reserved IP Addresses.

As a result of this decision, on July 1, 2012, we no longer accept new requests, process rekeys or renewals, or allow any management of Subject Alternative Names for certificates that contain intranet names or reserved IP addresses, and are valid beyond November 1, 2015. If you have an existing certificate that contains an intranet name and/or a reserved IP address, you can continue to use that certificate until it expires or until October 1, 2016, whichever comes first.

To read CA/Browser Forum guidelines, go here.

For more information on which IPv4 addresses are reserved, go here. Some addresses are mentioned only in the footnotes. We do not support any certificates using IPv6.

Intel AppUp Small Business Service Video

Intel AppUp Small Business Service Video
Grow your business with the Intel Hybrid Cloud Services

Intel AppUp SmallBusiness Service-Top10 Reasons

Intel AppUp SmallBusiness Service-Top10 Reasons to jump on board

Flip the Switch Sales Video

Intel provided video describing how you can leverage the Intel Hybrid Cloud service and the Intel AppUp Small Business Service subscription model.

Intel Hybrid Cloud Technology–A new way to do networking in your business…

Cost has always been an issue when trying to implement the right technology into your business. Intel has developed a solution that will help you keep your equipment and software up to date as well as affordable. This solution will allow us as a Technology Support Company to provide you, our clients, with reliable equipment that is easy to maintain and support both on a hardware basis as well as the applications that let you run your business well.

This new equipment is a support tech’s dream with built-in management features that allow us to perform quick reliable remote assistance on your equipment. As your needs change, or as you add new users and equipment the licensing is simple and straight forward. This solution provides a 3 year refresh cycle that helps us provide you with up to date hardware and software and the right tools on a monthly subscription basis. You will have less worries about having the most current tools to allow you to be competitive in your business marketplace.

Intel is working with many of the leading software manufacturers to provide applications that fit in with the pay-as-you-go subscription model. This small business solution scales with your business growth so you only pay for the services that you use. You won’t have a high up front cost to purchase the software and if the usefulness of the application comes to an end all we have to do is turn it off and you will no longer be billed for it.

Intel describes the benefits of the AppUp Small Business Service as follows:

• Cloud-like flexibility. Customers consume IT software on a monthly basis without a high upfront fee. Cost scales with number of users, offering a predictable, manageable way to pay for software. You can adjust your monthly software costs as business conditions and the number of users change.
• Remotely manageable. With an MSP managing the server, you get focus on managing your business rather your customers’ servers.
• Data control. With an on-premises server, you can keep data on-site and within your control.
• Lower solutions cost. Run multiple applications and add new applications while paying only for what you use.

Application Categories include:

• Business Applications (intuit, Tally
• Healthcare Applications (gloStream
• Server O/S (Microsoft, SUSE Linux, Clear Center, Pragma Systems)
• Email/Collaboration/Instant Messaging (Workspace)
• Database (Apani)
• Firewall/Unified Threat Management (UTM) (Astaro, Asigra, GFI, SIOS)
• Back-up (StorageCraft, kineticROBOBAK, Vembu)
• Remote Management (Level Platforms, Lumension)
• Disaster Recovery
• VOIP-PBX (Fonality)

With all of the products and more becoming available weekly we are very excited about the affordability of this approach. Be sure to keep an eye on this blog to see more as we begin implementing this exciting new business solution!

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