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Automated Certificate Management Environment › Certificate Inventory and Management › ITOM Visibility › IT Operations Management
Release: Australia · Updated: 2026-03-12 · Official documentation · View source

Exploring ACME

The Automated Certificate Management Environment (ACME) is a communication protocol that automates the interaction between a certificate authority (CA) and a server. It streamlines the processes of requesting, renewing, and revoking SSL/TLS certificates.

ACME overview

ACME uses JSON-formatted messages transmitted over a secure HTTPS connection. This communication enables for automated certificate life-cycle management, reducing manual intervention and the risk of errors.

ACME is a widely adopted standard used by public key infrastructure admins, line of business owners, certificate management users, admins, account owners, and team managers.

ACME benefits

During requesting, renewing, or revoking SSL/TLS certificates, ACME offers significant benefits:

  • It automates tasks associated with certificate management, reducing the administrative burden for IT teams.
  • It helps verify that the certificates are valid and up-to-date.
  • It eliminates the need for manual certificate management tasks, reducing overall costs.