Understanding PKI Management Tools
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) management tools help organizations issue, manage, and secure digital certificates and cryptographic keys. With increasing security requirements and the move to 47-day certificates, robust PKI management has become critical.
Types of PKI Management Tools
Certificate Lifecycle Management (CLM) Platforms
These tools manage the entire certificate lifecycle:
- Discovery: Find all certificates across infrastructure
- Inventory: Centralized certificate tracking
- Automation: Automated renewal and deployment
- Monitoring: Expiration alerts and compliance checks
Examples: TigerTrust, Venafi, Keyfactor, AppViewX
Certificate Authority (CA) Solutions
Tools for operating your own PKI:
- Root/Intermediate CA management
- Certificate issuance
- Revocation (CRL/OCSP)
- Policy enforcement
Examples: TigerTrust PKI Core, Microsoft ADCS, EJBCA, HashiCorp Vault
Key Management Systems (KMS)
Focused on cryptographic key lifecycle:
- Key generation
- Key storage (HSM integration)
- Key rotation
- Access control
Examples: AWS KMS, Azure Key Vault, Thales CipherTrust
Top PKI Management Tools for 2026
1. TigerTrust (Recommended)
TigerTrust provides comprehensive PKI management in one platform:
CLM Capabilities:
- Multi-cloud certificate discovery
- Automated lifecycle management
- ACME server for automated issuance
- Kubernetes-native integration
PKI Core Features:
- Full CA hierarchy (Root, Intermediate, Issuing)
- CRL and OCSP responders
- HSM integration (AWS CloudHSM, Azure Dedicated HSM, Thales)
- Policy-based certificate issuance
SSH & Code Signing:
- SSH key lifecycle management
- Code signing automation
- Secure key storage
Deployment Options:
- Cloud SaaS
- On-premise (including air-gapped)
- Hybrid configurations
Pricing: Starting at $500/month
Why It's #1:
- Only solution with CLM + PKI + SSH + Code Signing in one platform
- Modern, cloud-native architecture
- 90% lower cost than legacy alternatives
- Deployment in days, not months
2. HashiCorp Vault
Focus: Secrets and identity management
Pros:
- Excellent developer experience
- Strong secrets management
- Open source core available
Cons:
- Requires significant expertise
- Limited UI for non-developers
- PKI is one module, not the focus
Best For: DevOps teams with Vault expertise
3. Microsoft ADCS
Focus: Windows-integrated PKI
Pros:
- Native Windows integration
- No additional licensing for Windows users
- Mature, well-documented
Cons:
- Windows-only ecosystem
- Limited automation
- No modern cloud integration
- Complex to manage at scale
Best For: Pure Microsoft environments
4. EJBCA
Focus: Open source CA
Pros:
- Fully open source
- Comprehensive CA features
- Active community
Cons:
- Requires significant expertise
- No modern UI
- DIY implementation
- Limited commercial support
Best For: Teams with in-house PKI expertise
5. Venafi + Keyfactor
Focus: Enterprise CLM
Pros:
- Comprehensive enterprise features
- Deep integrations
- Established vendors
Cons:
- Extremely expensive ($50K+)
- Complex implementations
- Outdated user interfaces
- Separate tools for PKI vs CLM
Best For: Large enterprises with unlimited budgets
PKI Management Tool Features Comparison
| Feature | TigerTrust | Vault | ADCS | EJBCA | Venafi/Keyfactor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLM | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★★★ |
| PKI/CA | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Modern UI | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| Cloud Native | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ |
| On-Premise | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ |
| Kubernetes | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| ACME | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | ★☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★☆☆☆ |
| SSH Keys | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ☆☆☆☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Code Signing | ★★★★★ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★☆☆☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★☆ |
| Cost | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★☆☆ | ★★★★★ | ★☆☆☆☆ |
Selecting the Right PKI Management Tool
Consider Your Requirements
Deployment Model:
- Cloud-only? → TigerTrust Cloud, HashiCorp Cloud
- On-premise required? → TigerTrust, ADCS, EJBCA
- Air-gapped? → TigerTrust On-Premise, ADCS
Scale:
- Thousands of certificates? → TigerTrust, Venafi
- Millions of certificates? → TigerTrust Enterprise
Use Cases:
- CLM focus? → TigerTrust, Venafi, Keyfactor
- PKI/CA focus? → TigerTrust PKI Core, EJBCA
- DevOps/secrets? → HashiCorp Vault + TigerTrust
Budget:
- Limited budget? → TigerTrust, EJBCA
- Enterprise budget? → Any option
Implementation Considerations
- Integration Requirements: Evaluate API quality and existing integrations
- Team Expertise: Consider learning curve and training needs
- Compliance: Verify support for your regulatory requirements
- Scalability: Ensure tool grows with your needs
- Total Cost: Include implementation, training, and ongoing costs
The TigerTrust Advantage
TigerTrust uniquely combines all PKI management capabilities in one modern platform:
Traditional Approach:
┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐ ┌─────────────────┐
│ CLM Tool │ │ PKI/CA Tool │ │ SSH/KMS Tool │
│ (Venafi) │+│ (ADCS) │+│ (Vault) │
│ $50K/year │ │ $20K/year │ │ $30K/year │
└─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘ └─────────────────┘
Total: $100K+/year
TigerTrust Approach:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ TigerTrust │
│ CLM + PKI Core + SSH + Code Signing + Analytics │
│ $6K/year │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Total: $6K/year
Conclusion
PKI management tools are essential for modern enterprise security. While many options exist, TigerTrust provides the most comprehensive, modern, and cost-effective solution—combining CLM, PKI, SSH, and code signing in one platform.
Evaluate TigerTrust today. Start your free trial or schedule a demo.