SSL/TLS Certificate Statistics and Trends for 2025

Key takeaways:

• SSL/TLS certificates encrypt data between browsers and servers, protecting unauthorized users from eavesdropping and man-in-the middle attacks.
• Certificate lifespans are shrinking.
• Universal HTTPS adoption is rising, with 88% of websites now using SSL/TLS certificates. 

Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) certificates protect data shared between users and web servers. With rising cyber threats, data privacy regulations and secure connections are now a baseline expectation for every website.

Let’s explore SSL/TLS certificate statistics that you should know. We’ll look at global adoption rates, usage and market trends, and other industry-specific insights.

SSL/TLS certificates and their role in internet security

SSL/TLS certificates are digital certificates used to verify if a website is secure. When a website is safe, it typically uses HTTPS protocol, a protected version of HTTP that encrypts data between your browser and the website you’re visiting.

Such SSL certificates help make encryption possible and prove a site’s legitimacy. There are several types of SSL certificates, each offering different levels of validation.

• Domain Validation (DV). It’s the easiest and the most affordable. It only confirms domain ownership.
• Organization Validation (OV). This certificate needs to verify domain ownership and the business associated with it.
• Extended Validation (EV). It’s the standard certificate for eCommerce businesses. It requires in-depth validation from legal ownership to physical location.

Each type of SSL certificate protects sensitive data and reduces phishing and other cyber-attacks. But how do you, as an end user, know that a website is secure? You’ll see web security indications, such as the padlock icon, next to the URL.

SSL/TLS certificate market in 2025

The SSL/TLS industry is growing fast. Let’s explore recent market data and the current value of the SSL market.

• According to Coherent Market Insights, the SSL certificate market’s worth could reach around $234.5 million this 2025. By 2032, it could grow to $518.4 million. This growth highlights the importance of SSL certificates, especially in keeping websites safe and building trust online.

• Today, six Certificate Authorities (CAs) are responsible for issuing 90% of all SSL certificates. One of them, Let’s Encrypt, leads by a huge margin with 63.7% of market share. GlobalSign comes in second with 22.4% and third, Sectigo, with 5.9%. The rest of the SSL certificate authorities each hold less than 0.1% market share. This gap shows how concentrated and centralized the SSL certificate marketplace has become.
• The United States leads the SSL industry with over 27 million SSL certificates, followed by Germany with nearly 12 million.

Key trends shaping the SSL/TLS industry

Major shifts in SSL/TLS usage are happening now. Let’s see how websites and popular search engines like Google and Yelp play a role in securing users’ online journeys today.

• Recent stats show that as of June 2025, 88.08% of web sites now use HTTPS protocol. This widespread SSL adoption highlights a strong commitment to online security. However, it’s important to note that 11.92% of websites still lack security protocols, leaving some websites at risk of data breaches.
• Many popular websites, including Google, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram, use Default protocol HTTPS.
• Google’s Transparency Report indicates that as of June 2025, 95% of web traffic on its platforms is secure and allows encryption.

Phishing attacks and SSL

The job of SSL/TLS is to keep websites secure from threats like phishing attacks. But how are cyber-attacks still going today?

Let’s see some statistical data on how cybercriminals can put websites and users at risk:

• According to SSL Pulse, many sites fall short in securing their connections. In the November 03, 2024 report, around 30.3% of websites did not follow best practices for SSL implementation. This shows that numerous websites still have weak SSL setups despite the push for HTTPS adoption, leaving room for security risks.
• The Anti-Phishing Working Group’s Q4 2024 Report highlights the growing rate of phishing attacks. Between October and December 2024, APWG recorded 989,123 phishing incidents. These phishing sites often possess SSL certificates to appear legitimate. Phishers take advantage of free SSL certificates to lure internet users and exploit user’s trust in traditional security markers.

The future of SSL/TLS certificates

SSL/TLS certificates currently have a maximum validity of one year. But that’s about to change. In response to the growing number of phishing sites with valid SSL certificates, the CA/Browser Forum introduced new measures to ensure secure web communication.

By 2026, the maximum validity of most SSL certificates will drop to six months. And eventually, by 2029, it will shrink to 47 days or 1.5 months. This shift aims to reduce the risk of misuse and limit the damage of compromised SSL/TLS certificates.

While this change aims to improve security, it also means more frequent renewals. For organizations managing multiple domains or subdomains, manual service of SSL certificates for every domain becomes impractical. That’s where automated SSL management comes in.

Tools like Automatic Certificate Management Environment (ACME) help automate the certificate lifecycle, from issuance and installation to renewals and revocation. These tools reduce the risk of expired certificates causing downtime while letting IT teams focus on other security priorities.

Stay protected: The next step for website owners

As the internet continues to grow, so does the need for stronger online security. SSL/TLS certificates are key players in building trust, protecting data, and ensuring secure HTTPS pages.

Make your website safer today with trusted SSL certificates by Network Solutions.

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