Let's Encrypt is ending support for email notifications
Let's Encrypt recently announced they will discontinue their certificate expiration notification emails on June 4, 2025. This decision marks the end of a long-standing feature that many organizations have relied upon to manage their SSL certificates.
Why Let's Encrypt is ending support
Let's Encrypt's decision stems from several key factors that reflect the evolving landscape of web security.
Infrastructure costs
The service currently costs tens of thousands of dollars annually to maintain, resources that Let's Encrypt believes could be better allocated to core infrastructure improvements
Privacy considerations
The current system requires storing millions of email addresses connected to issuance records, which conflicts with Let's Encrypt's commitment to privacy.
Automation trends
Over the past decade, more subscribers have implemented reliable automation for certificate renewal, reducing the need for manual notification systems. Services like this include Spectate's SSL monitoring.
Impact on your apps
While this change might seem concerning at first, it presents an opportunity to implement better SSL certificate monitoring solutions. Traditional email notifications, while helpful, have several limitations.
For example, false positives were common as the current system generates numerous unactionable warnings, especially when you move between different Let's Encrypt accounts.
Alternative SSL monitoring
As Let's Encrypt phases out its notification system, Spectate offers a comprehensive alternative beyond simple email alerts.
Realtime monitoring
Instead of waiting for emails, Spectate actively checks your SSL certificates every 15 minutes, ensuring you never miss an expiration.
Smart and fast notifications
Receive timely alerts through multiple channels:
- Slack integration for team collaboration
- Email notifications with detailed certificate information
- Custom webhook support for your existing tools
- ... and much more with incident management!
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