Certificate framework
Purchase your certificates through our single-supplier framework for flexibility, compliance and sector-negotiated rates.
Our certificate service helps education, public sector and not-for-profit organisations keep web and email services secure, so confidential data can be sent safely via the internet.
Whether you are looking to take control of your budgets, save money or make managing your certificates easier by having them all in one place, we’re here to help.
A new route to order
We operate as a single-supplier procurement framework, with DigiCert as the new provider of the certificate service. They are a globally trusted certificate authority with a strong reputation for security, scalability and innovation. This means you can purchase certificates directly from DigiCert under terms negotiated by Jisc, giving you greater flexibility and transparency, while retaining the benefits of our aggregated purchasing power.
Benefits
- Flexibility: institutions have more control over purchasing and certificate management
- Value: thanks to Jisc’s aggregated purchasing power, members will access certificates well below market rates
- Assurance: the solution meets sector-wide technical requirements and is designed to support future developments, including quantum encryption and lifecycle management
- Compliance and security: supplier capability has been fully assessed as part of our procurement due diligence, and the process is fully compliant with the Procurement Act
Who is the certificate service for?
Our certificate service is available to any research or education organisation in the UK, as well as other public sector and not-for-profit organisations, including:
- Universities
- Colleges and skills providers
- Schools and muti-academy trusts
- Research councils
- NHS and social care
- Local authorities
- Charities
Eligibility
This framework is open to organisations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as members of National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) outside the UK.
Organisations may be members of higher and further education purchasing consortia. These consortia are independent organisations that provide a wide range of collaborative purchase agreements to their member institutions. Any member of one of these consortia will be eligible to purchase from this framework by virtue of its membership, as will members of any other similar purchasing consortium in higher or further education that might be formed during the lifetime of the framework.
The framework is available for use by any NREN and the community it serves, where the NREN has either a direct connection to the Janet Network or the NREN is a member at any time during the period of this framework, or the consortium that operates GÉANT.
The framework is available for use by HEAnet, its subsidiaries, member institutions and customers (including schools serviced by the HEAnet school’s network).
This framework is open to organisations in England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, as well as members of National Research and Education Networks (NRENs) outside the UK.
Organisations may be members of higher and further education purchasing consortia. These consortia are independent organisations that provide a wide range of collaborative purchase agreements to their member institutions. Any member of one of these consortia will be eligible to purchase from this framework by virtue of its membership, as will members of any other similar purchasing consortium in higher or further education that might be formed during the lifetime of the framework.
The framework is available for use by any NREN and the community it serves, where the NREN has either a direct connection to the Janet Network or the NREN is a member at any time during the period of this framework, or the consortium that operates GÉANT.
The framework is available for use by HEAnet, its subsidiaries, member institutions and customers (including schools serviced by the HEAnet school’s network).
Getting started
Download our buyer's guide to find out more about using the service.
This framework only covers the purchase of digital certificates from DigiCert. Digital certificates authenticate identities, secure communications, and uphold data integrity – forming the core of online trust.
This framework does not include any other products or services. For any services beyond digital certificates, or for clarification on the scope of this framework, please contact certificates@jisc.ac.uk.
Certificate automation
The move towards shorter certificate lifecycles means certificate automation is rapidly becoming a necessity rather than a nice-to-have. By March 2029, certificates will be valid for only 47 days, making manual renewals increasingly difficult to manage at scale.
To help organisations prepare, we have launched certificate automation support. Delivered by our consultancy team, the service helps you evaluate your readiness for automation, identify appropriate solutions, and implement best-practice approaches tailored to your environment.
Learn why action is needed in our latest blog about why automation is becoming essential and explore practical guidance and tools through our security certificate automation toolkit.
Email our trust and identity consultancy team at trustandidentity@jisc.ac.uk to book a scoping call if you’re ready to discuss your current certificate estate and identify the best path towards automation.