What is CSR (Certificate Signing Request)? | Definition from TechTarget (2024)

What is CSR (Certificate Signing Request)? | Definition from TechTarget (1)

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What is a CSR (Certificate Signing Request)?

A CSR (Certificate Signing Request) is a specially formatted encrypted message sent from a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) digital certificate applicant to a certificate authority (CA). The CSR validates the information the CA requires to issue a certificate.

In a public key infrastructure (PKI) system, which enables secure data sharing among validated parties on the internet, a CSR must be created before ordering and purchasing an SSL certificate.

How does the CSR process work?

Applicants must first generate a key pair -- a private key, which is used to decrypt ciphertext and create digital signatures, and a public key to encrypt plaintext and verify digital certificates. Note that both the key pair and CSR must be created on the server on which the SSL certificate is used; this is imperative to ensure the integrity of the key pair and PKI in general.

After the key pair is prepared, the CSR can be generated. Upon collecting all the necessary CSR data, the CA uses this data to build the certificate.

How is a CSR generated?

How a CSR is generated depends on the web server software used. Once the CSR is generated, it can be submitted to the CA. If the request is successfully validated, the CA issues the SSL certificate.

What data is included in a CSR?

The following information must be included in a CSR.

InformationDescriptionExample
Common name (CN)The fully qualified domain name of your server

www.mycompany.com,

mail.mycompany.com *
Business name/organization (O)The legal name of your organizationMy Company, Inc.; My Company, Corp.
Department/organization name (OU)The division of your organization handling the certificateIT, Finance
City/town (L)The city where your organization is locatedBoston, London
State/county/region (S)The state/county/region where your organization is located (do not abbreviate)Massachusetts, Worcestershire
Country (C)The two-letter ISO code of where your organization is locatedUS, GB
Email addressAn email address to contact your organization[emailprotected],[emailprotected]
*When generating a CSR for a wildcard certificate, the common name should start with an * -- e.g., *.mycompany.com.

This was last updated in March 2023

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What is CSR (Certificate Signing Request)? | Definition from TechTarget (2024)

FAQs

What is CSR (Certificate Signing Request)? | Definition from TechTarget? ›

A CSR (Certificate Signing Request) is a specially formatted encrypted message sent from a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) digital certificate applicant to a certificate authority (CA).

What does CSR mean in certificates? ›

A certificate signing request (CSR) is one of the first steps towards getting your own SSL/TLS certificate. Generated on the same server you plan to install the certificate on, the CSR contains information (e.g. common name, organization, country) the Certificate Authority (CA) will use to create your certificate.

What is the CSR of a certificate? ›

Definition. A Certificate of Release to Service (CRS) is a declaration made by appropriately authorised personnel once it has been verified that the task being signed for has been properly carried out.

What is CSR signature? ›

The digital signature created by the CA's private key serves as cryptographic proof that the certificate has been issued by a trusted authority. It binds the certificate's public key to the entity's identity, validating the authenticity and integrity of the certificate.

Why is a CSR signed? ›

The signature by the requester prevents an entity from requesting a bogus certificate of someone else's public key.

How can I check my CSR certificate? ›

To check CSRs and view the information encoded in them, simply paste your CSR into the box below and our CSR Decoder will do the rest. Your CSR should start with "-----BEGIN CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- " and end with "-----END CERTIFICATE REQUEST----- ".

How to get a CSR certificate? ›

Steps to generate a key and CSR
  1. Set the OpenSSL configuration environment variable (optional).
  2. Generate a key file.
  3. Create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR).
  4. Send the CSR to a certificate authority (CA) to obtain an SSL certificate.
  5. Use the key and certificate to configure Tableau Server to use SSL.

Is CSR a certificate request? ›

A CSR is a critical component of public key infrastructure (PKI) and essentially functions as the first step in requesting SSL/TLS certificates.

What is CSR and how does it work? ›

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategy undertaken by companies to not just grow profits, but to take an active and positive social role in the world around them. The term is also associated with the related term corporate citizenship.

Who can issue CSR certificate? ›

The eForm CSR-1 needs to be verified digitally by a Chartered Accountant (CA), Company Secretary (CS), or a Cost Accountant (CA) in practice. After verification of the form by a CA, CS or cost accountant, submit the Form CSR-1 on the portal.

Who signs a CSR? ›

After you create a certificate signing request (CSR), it must be signed by a certificate authority (CA) to be transformed into a certificate that can be uploaded to License Metric Tool. You can use the OpenSSL cryptographic library to create a private CA and sign your request.

Does a Certificate Signing Request contain a private key? ›

You need a public and private key pair before creating a Certificate Signing Request (CSR). The private key should be kept secret, while the public key is included in the CSR.

Do certificate signing requests expire? ›

A certificate signing request (CSR) does not have an inherent validity period. It is simply a file that contains information about the entity or individual requesting a digital certificate. The CSR itself does not expire or become invalid on its own.

What is the purpose of a CSR certificate? ›

A CSR (Certificate Signing Request) is a specially formatted encrypted message sent from a Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) digital certificate applicant to a certificate authority (CA). The CSR validates the information the CA requires to issue a certificate.

What is the purpose of the CSR? ›

Corporate social responsibility programs aim to give structure to a company's efforts to give back to the community, participate in philanthropic causes, and provide positive social value. Businesses increasingly turn to CSR to make a difference and build a positive brand around their company.

Why is CSR needed? ›

CSR practices help companies mitigate risk by avoiding troubling situations. This includes preventing adverse activities such as discrimination against employee groups, disregard for natural resources, unethical use of company funds, and activity that leads to lawsuits, and litigation.

What does the CSR stand for? ›

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is a strategy undertaken by companies to not just grow profits, but to take an active and positive social role in the world around them. The term is also associated with the related term corporate citizenship.

What is CSR in digital certificate? ›

CSR (Certificate Signing Request) is the message that's sent to the CA in order to get a digital certificate created. A CSR is often generated on the same server on which the certificate is to be installed.

What does CSR mean in resume? ›

A Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) coordinator acts as a company's 'conscience', championing and developing the ethical, environmentally-friendly, and community-minded side of a business.

What are CSR credentials? ›

Some organisations even carry designations or seals, such as B Corporations (B Corps), to highlight their CSR credentials. In order to achieve certification, a company must: Demonstrate high social and environmental performance by achieving a B Impact Assessment score of 80 or above and passing a risk review.

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