Guide to CSR (Certificate Signing Request) Compiling Best Practices
A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is a vital component in the process of obtaining an SSL/TLS certificate for your website or server. A well-compiled CSR ensures the smooth issuance of your certificate and establishes trust with your users.
Here are some best practices to follow when compiling a CSR:
- Minimum Key Size: 2048
It is recommended to use a minimum key size of 2048 bits for your CSR. This ensures a strong level of encryption and security for your SSL/TLS certificate. - Avoid abbreviations in State Field
When entering the state information in the CSR, avoid abbreviations. Use the full name of the state or province to maintain clarity and consistency. For example, use “California” instead of “CA” or “New York” instead of “NY.” - Never include a passphrase in the CSR
The CSR should only contain the necessary information for certificate issuance and should not include any sensitive data or passwords. - Avoid Additional Company Name
Avoid entering any additional company names in the CSR. The CSR should only include the official legal name of your organization as registered with the appropriate authorities. - Do not enter an email address in the CSR
The CSR is not the appropriate place to include email contact information. Email addresses are typically provided separately during the certificate application or verification process. - Avoid leaving the OU field blank
While it is not mandatory, it is good practice to provide some information in this field. If you don’t have a specific organizational unit, you can simply enter “IT” to indicate the department responsible for managing the SSL/TLS certificate. - Double-check all the information
It is essential to double-check all the information in the CSR before submitting it to avoid any delays or complications in the certificate issuance process.
Following these best practices will help ensure that your CSR will be properly compiled and ready for submission to a Certificate Authority (CA).
Remember that CSR generation processes may vary depending on the server or software you are using. Consult the documentation or support resources specific to your environment for detailed instructions on generating CSRs.
By adhering to these best practices, you can streamline the CSR compilation process and obtain SSL/TLS certificates efficiently while maintaining the necessary security and trust for your website or server.