Quick Start Guide

The CERTInext Quick Start Guide helps you get up and running with certificate lifecycle management in minutes. It provides a guided flow to onboard your environment, discover certificates, automate issuance, and enable deployment - all from a centralized platform.

This guide follows the same structure as the CERTInext portal, allowing you to navigate seamlessly between documentation and the product UI.

Step 1: Access CERTInext

Navigation: Login → Dashboard

• Log in to the CERTInext portal using your credentials

• Ensure your organization and user roles are correctly configured

• Verify access to required modules such as Certificates, Integrations, and Templates

Step 2: Configure Prerequisites

Navigation: Settings → Global Settings / Integrations

Before starting, ensure:

• Network access (Port 443 outbound enabled)

• Required credentials for endpoints (IIS, Tomcat, F5, etc.)

• Administrative privileges for Bot installation

• CA integration (Public CA or Private CA such as emCA)

These prerequisites ensure smooth discovery, issuance, and deployment workflows

Step 3: Install and Configure Bot

Navigation: Integrations → Tools → Bots

• Download the CERTInext Bot

• Install on a target system (Windows/Linux)

• Launch with administrator privileges

• Activate using Account ID and Bot Token

The Bot acts as the execution engine for discovery and deployment across your infrastructure

Step 4: Discover Certificates

Navigation: Certificates → Discovery / Bots

• Create a new Bot configuration

• Define scan targets:

  • IP ranges

  • Domains

  • Ports / Port ranges

• Select sources:

  • SSL/TLS, LDAP, AWS, File System, HSM, F5

• Run scan

All discovered certificates will be visible in the centralized inventory

Step 5: Create Templates (CSR & Provisioning)

Navigation: Certificates → Templates

• Create CSR Template

  • Define key algorithm, size, subject details

• Create Provisioning Template

  • Define deployment type (Tomcat, IIS, F5, etc.)

  • Configure automation settings

Templates standardize issuance and ensure policy-driven automation

Step 6: Issue & Rotate Certificates

Navigation: Certificates → Inventory

• Select a discovered certificate

• Apply CSR + Provisioning templates

• Initiate Certificate Issuance / Rotation

CERTInext automates:

• Key generation

• CSR creation

• Certificate issuance (Public/Private CA)

• Renewal workflows

Step 7: Auto Deploy Certificates

Navigation: Certificates → Provisioning

• Select deployment type:

  • Tomcat (server.xml update + restart)

  • IIS (Windows store + binding update)

  • F5 (SSL profile update via API)

• Apply provisioning template

Certificates are automatically deployed to endpoints without manual intervention

Step 8: Monitor Dashboard & Alerts

Navigation: Dashboard

Track:

• Expiring certificates

• Weak keys / vulnerabilities

• Discovery coverage

• Automation health

Configure alerts:

• Expiry notifications

• Policy violations

• Security risks

Step 9: Enable Notifications & Reporting

Navigation: Settings → Integrations (SMTP) / Reports

• Configure SMTP for alerts

• Enable expiry notifications

• Generate reports for:

  • Inventory

  • Compliance

  • Risk posture

Quick Navigation Map (UI Alignment)

Step	Action	CERTInext Navigation
1	Login & Access	Dashboard
2	Prerequisites	Settings / Integrations
3	Bot Setup	Integrations → Tools
4	Discovery	Certificates → Bots / Discovery
5	Templates	Certificates → Templates
6	Issuance	Certificates → Inventory
7	Deployment	Certificates → Provisioning
8	Monitoring	Dashboard
9	Alerts & Reports	Settings / Reports

Outcome

By completing this Quick Start Guide, you will:

• Discover all certificates across your environment

• Centralize certificate inventory and visibility

• Automate issuance, renewal, and deployment

• Eliminate downtime caused by expired certificates

• Strengthen security and compliance posture