Many companies still rely on passwords for device authentication—but passwords can be stolen, shared, or hacked. A more secure approach uses digital certificates, which act like unforgeable ID cards for devices.

To deploy certificates at scale, organizations use Mobile Device Management (MDM) systems integrated with certificate management solution – such as Securetron’s PKI Trust Manager. This guide explains how the integration works.

Certificates provide cryptographic proof that a device is trusted. When combined with MDM, they enable:

✔ Zero-touch deployment (No manual certificate installations)
✔ Automatic renewals (No expired certificates locking users out)
✔ Granular access control (Only approved devices get access)

Common use cases:

• Wi-Fi authentication (No more shared passwords)

• VPN access (Block unauthorized devices)

• Email encryption (Protect sensitive communications)

• The MDM communicates with a Registration Authority – PKI Trust Manager.

• Devices request certificates automatically during MDM enrollment.

• The PKI Trust Manager’s Certification Authority issues and deploys certificates without user involvement.

• Certificates are pre-generated and uploaded to the MDM.

• The MDM securely pushes certificates (with private keys) to devices.

• Useful for email encryption or when manual issuance is a requirement. These certificates can still be issued via PKI Trust Manager

• Set up certificate authorities (CA) and PKI Trust Manager

• If using SCEP or EST, additional configuration is required to integrate MDM with Registration Authorities, App-Registration (if using Intune), and enrollment profiles

• Define rules for which devices/users get certificates.

• Set up automatic renewals to prevent outages.

• Test with a small group first.

• Monitor for expiring/revoked certificates.

🔒 Short certificate lifespans (Reduce risk if compromised)
🔒 Revocation checks (Block devices with invalid certificates)
🔒 Automate everything (Manual processes lead to failures)

MDM systems that integrate with certificate servers eliminate weak password-based authentication while keeping deployment seamless for users.

The right implementation depends on your infrastructure—but the security benefits are universal:

✅ No more stolen credentials
✅ No manual certificate hassle
✅ Full control over device access

A well-designed MDM with certificate integration done through PKI Trust Manager enhances the security posture and eases management.

If you need help choosing or implementing a system that fits your PKI—without vendor lock-in—we specialize in flexible, secure device management. Let’s talk about your requirements!