Machine Identity Without Shared Secrets

Replace Shared Secrets with
Scalable Machine Identity

EAP-TLS validates both user and device at authentication, using your IdP, MDM, or hardware tokens. No domain controllers, cached passwords, or scripts to manage.

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Machine Identity Crisis

Secure Machine Identity Starts with
Killing Hardcoded Keys

Hardcoded API keys. Certificate sprawl. Shared service accounts. Automation that breaks security. Your machines are the weakest link.

The machine identity problems growing with your automation:

CRISIS

Hardcoded API keys embedded in source code and configs

Developers put API keys directly in code because "it's just for testing" until it hits production.

HIGH

Certificate sprawl with zero lifecycle management

Self-signed certificates scattered across containers, services, and APIs with no expiration tracking.

MEDIUM

Shared service accounts across multiple applications

One service account used by 20 different microservices because individual identity is "too complex."

ONGOING

CI/CD pipelines bypassing security for deployment speed

Automation that prioritizes velocity over security verification and credential rotation.

Automated certificate lifecycle fixes this

The Certificate-Based Alternative

Traditional machine identity relies on static secrets that create security debt. Certificate-based identity eliminates this by binding machine authentication to cryptographic proof that can't be shared, stolen, or forgotten in configs.

FROM API KEYS TO CERTIFICATES

Automated Machine Identity Backed by
Hardware-bound Certificates

SecureW2 issues certificates tied to machine identity and policy compliance. When services communicate, certificates prove identity and authorization — no hardcoded API keys required.

Issue Certificate

ACME/SCEP Automation
IoT Device Identity (MacAuth, WebAuth, Linux)
Servers, VMs, Containers via REST API and DevOps tools
Code Signing Certificates

Validate Machine + Policy

IoT and Server Identity Validation
Container/VM Policy Compliance
Code Signing Integrity Checks
Real-time Authorization

Grant Access

mTLS Authentication for APIs and Service Mesh
System Authentication for Linux/IoT/Containers
Secure Code Signing Workflows

Eliminates Hardcoded Keys

No more API keys or static credentials in configs. Certificates replace secrets everywhere.

Machine + Workload + Policy Bound Together

Certificates bind IoT, servers, VMs, containers, and code signing with enforced policy compliance.

Complete Audit Trail

Full visibility into NHI activity. Machine comms, code signing, workload access with compliance-ready reporting.

Automated Provisioning

Issue certs via ACME, SCEP, or API. Works with containers, VMs, IoT, and pipeline jobs. No domain join or scripting.

Policy-Based Access

Enforce access with certificate expiration, workload policies, and code-signing checks tied to identity and environment.

Identity Observability

Audit every machine connection by X.509 identity. Monitor Kubernetes, CI/CD, and service traffic.

From Architecture to Implementation

With certificate-based machine identity established, the next step is implementing automated lifecycle management across your infrastructure. These patterns eliminate manual certificate operations while maintaining security at scale.

Machine Identity at Scale

Machine Identity at Scale Without
Secrets Management

Automate certificate lifecycle for containers, pipelines, and services. No manual cleanup, no shared secrets, no security gaps.

Pipeline Certificates

Pod Identity

Service-to-Service Auth

Pipeline Certificates That Die with the Build

GitHub Actions triggers → certificate issued → build runs → deployment completes → certificate expires automatically. Zero cleanup required, no orphaned credentials in your infrastructure.

Core Specification

Certificate Format: X.509v3 with SAN extensions. Issued via REST API or ACME (with sample playbooks)Pipeline-specific SANs for secure API calls

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Unique Certificates for Every Pod

Container spawns → unique certificate issued → pod lifecycle managed → certificate expires with short TTL. No shared service accounts, no manual certificate management across your Kubernetes clusters.

Compatible with Orchestrators & Service Mesh (via API)

Kubernetes
ECS
Nomad
Istio
Linkerd
Consul

Container Lifecycle Integration

Pod Scaling: Unique certificates per instanceAutomatic provisioning
for horizontal scaling

Certificates issued via cert-manager, REST API, or ACME with short TTLsOptional: Orchestrator can call API for revocation at pod termination

X.509 certificates compatible with SPIFFE-based identities (usable in Istio, Linkerd,
Consul)(e.g., Istio, Linkerd, Consul)

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Service-to-Service Without Shared Secrets

API calls secured with certificates, not API keys. Every service gets a unique identity with automatic rotation. Services authenticate with short-lived certificates instead of API keys. No API keys stored in env files for service auth.

Compatible Platforms (via mTLS / X.509)
^{Works with service meshes that support mTLS (e.g., Istio, Linkerd, Consul, Envoy).}

Istio
Linkerd
Consul
Envoy Proxy

mTLS & Protocol Support

mTLS with short-lived X.509 certs; SPIFFE-style IDs supported. Compatible with OAuth 2.0
mTLS client authentication(when supported by your gateway/IdP)

Short-lived certificates (e.g., hours) with automated renewal via API or
cert-managerReload behavior depends on your mesh/proxy

No API keys required for service authReduces reliance on external
secret stores, though other secrets may still be managed there

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Platform Integration Layer

Certificate lifecycle automation requires deep integration with your existing infrastructure. SecureW2 provides native APIs and protocols that work with the tools your teams already use, from Kubernetes cert-manager to GitHub Actions. Ready to see how this works with your stack?

Designed for Real-Time, Context-Aware Enforcement

Works Seamlessly With the Security Stack You Already Use

SecureW2 ingests real-time signals from your existing tools such as SIEMs, EDRs, firewalls, and identity providers using native integrations, webhooks, and eventhooks. These insights feed our policy engine to deliver precise, context-rich access decisions when and where they matter most.

SecureW2

Certificate Authority at the Center of Your Security Ecosystem

200+ Integrations

Identity & Access Policy Enablement & SSO

+ Many More

Device Management MDM/EMM & Cert Gateway

+ Many More

Network Security SASE & ZTNA

+ Many More

Wireless Security 802.1X Wi-Fi Enterprise

+ Many More

Threat Intelligence EDR/XDR & SIEM Platforms

+ Many More

Certificates For Any Access Surface

If It's Accessible, It's Securable

Discover how our comprehensive identity and access management solutions can secure your organization across different use cases and environments.

/ NETWORK AUTH

/ SSO & WEB APPS

/ ZTNA/VPN

/ DESKTOP LOGIN

/ GUEST WI-FI

/ NON-HUMAN IDENTITIES

SecureW2 / NETWORK AUTH

Modernize Auth for Wired and Wireless Networks

Fast, reliable 802.1X and Cloud RADIUS authentication for Wi-Fi and wired access—powered by real-time policy evaluation and passwordless certificate-based access that adapts to identity, posture and risk.

INTEGRATIONS

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SecureW2 / SSO & WEB APPS

Device Trust for SSO and Applications

Dynamically issue x.509 certificates through policies that authorize scoped access based on role, risk and device context. Enforce least-privilege access to SaaS and internal apps from trusted devices only.

INTEGRATIONS

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SecureW2 / ZTNA/VPN

Enforce Least-Privilege Access for Remote Workers

Enable secure distributed access with certificate-based ZTNA and VPN integrations. Dynamic policy decisions authorize access based on real-time signals from your existing security stack.

INTEGRATIONS

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SecureW2 / DESKTOP LOGIN

Passwordless Desktop Authentication

Enforce certificate-backed login with YubiKeys, smart cards and other hardware tokens. Dynamic certificate management supports PIN and PUK functionality and automates enrollment, renewal and slot assignment.

INTEGRATIONS

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SecureW2 / GUEST WI-FI

Deliver Guest Wi-Fi with Role Limits and Expiration

Provision guest access with minute-level control. Supported methods include sponsor approval and self-registration through Captive Portal, plus directory integration with LDAP, Google, PowerSchool and SAML.

INTEGRATIONS

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SecureW2 / NON-HUMAN IDENTITIES

Scoped Access for Autonomous Workloads

Issue certificates specifically provisioned for pipelines, containers, scripts and AI agents. Scope access dynamically with ACME and policy tuned for systems that operate on their own. No shared keys or secrets.

INTEGRATIONS

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What's the benefit over Let's Encrypt or public ACME providers?

Public ACME CAs don't validate internal identity or policy. SecureW2 provides private CA infrastructure with deep integration into your identity and device management systems—so certificates are only issued to trusted, verified machines.

Can SecureW2 work with Kubernetes and containers?

Yes. Our ACME and REST APIs integrate with Kubernetes, and we support sidecar and service mesh architectures for automatic enrollment and revocation.

What happens if a server goes offline or is decommissioned?

Certificates are automatically revoked based on API-triggered events, de-registration from orchestration platforms, or violation of security policy.

How do you prevent certificate abuse in large, automated environments?

We use External Account Binding (EAB), IP allowlists, real-time identity lookups, and policy evaluation to ensure only authorized systems can enroll and renew certs.

Can we monitor certificate activity centrally?

Yes. All enrollment, renewal, and revocation activity is logged, searchable, and can be integrated with SIEM tools for alerts and compliance.

Can I use SecureW2 with my own PKI or internal CA?

Yes. SecureW2 can issue from its own CA or integrate with your internal PKI infrastructure using our Policy Engine as the front door.

Built for Modern Automation

Eliminate Credential Risk for APIs, Services, and Machines

Secure non-human identities with automated certificate-based authentication. Replace hardcoded secrets and shared service accounts with strong X.509-backed identity issued by your IdP or MDM. Integrated, auditable, and ready to scale with your infrastructure.

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Explore Use Cases

Replace Shared Secrets with
Scalable Machine Identity

Secure Machine Identity Starts with
Killing Hardcoded Keys

The machine identity problems growing with your automation:

Ready to Eliminate Machine Identity Risk?