DigiCert, Inc. - Experts & Thought Leaders

DigiCert, a pioneer in intelligent trust, unveiled its 2026 Security Predictions, forecasting how AI, quantum computing, and automation will reshape global trust frameworks. The predictions highlight a pivotal shift toward AI integrity, resilience, and quantum readiness as core tenets of intelligent trust. DigiCert’s full predictions and outlook for the new year can be found at DigiCert’s blog. 1. AI Integrity Becomes the New Trust Standard: AI authenticity will overtake data confidentiality as the top enterprise trust concern. Organizations will require verifiable identity, provenance, and tracking for every model, dataset, and autonomous agent. 2. Resilience Becomes the New Compliance: Resilience will shift from an IT goal to a board-level mandate as regulations like Digital Operational Resilience Act (DORA) and new global standards tighten expectations. Organizations will be required to prove that their DNS, identity, and certificate systems can withstand disruption, with uptime and recoverability directly tied to financial and operational stability. 3. Automation Accelerates as Certificate Lifespans Shrink: With TLS certificate lifetimes reducing to 200 days as part of the phased reduction to 47 days, the effort associated with manual renewal doubles. Organizations will adopt full-stack automation to eliminate outages and create self-healing trust ecosystems. 4. Quantum Computing Puts Encryption on Notice: The first practical quantum computer capable of solving meaningful problems will emerge.  Organizations beginning their initial pilots will discover interoperability hurdles as certificate and software ecosystems adapt to quantum-safe requirements. 5. Content Authenticity Moves from Principle to Policy: Governments and major platforms will begin enforcing C2PA for AI-generated and edited content. Watermarking and cryptographic provenance will become required for distribution across news, social, and commerce. 6. Federated PKI Reinvented for the Post-Chrome Era: Organizations will modernize private PKI as Chrome phases out legacy client authentication and Microsoft sunsets old CA architectures. Identity will shift toward cloud-native, automated, and passwordless trust models. 7. Email Trust Redefined: Verified Identities Take the Lead: AI-driven phishing will push enterprises to standardize on Verified Mark Certificates and strict DMARC enforcement. Verified sender identity will become the baseline expectation for secure, enterprise-grade communication. 8. Machine Identities Outnumber Humans 100:1, and PQC Becomes Mandatory: Connected devices and AI agents will surpass human identities by two orders of magnitude. PQC-ready identity frameworks will become mandatory as standards bodies embed quantum-safe algorithms into device ecosystems. Integrity across every digital interaction “Security in 2026 won’t just be about protecting systems, it will be about proving integrity across every digital interaction,” said Jason Sabin, Chief Technology Officer at DigiCert. “As AI accelerates, machine identities multiply, and quantum computing advances, intelligent trust will become the foundation that keeps businesses resilient, verifiable, and secure. The organizations that embrace automation, provenance, and quantum-safe readiness now will define the trust landscape for the next decade.”

As AI-generated phishing attacks flood inboxes with more realistic and personalized scams, DigiCert, a pioneer in intelligent trust, today released new research revealing that consumers are turning to verified brand identities in email for reassurance--especially during Cyber Week.  The study, conducted by independent research firm Vitreous World, surveyed 5,000 consumers across the U.S., U.K., Australia, and New Zealand to understand how verified logos and sender authentication will impact trust, engagement, and safety during the height of online shopping season. Integrity as AI With 86% of consumers saying they feel safer when verified logos appear in their inbox, the findings underscore a growing need for organizations to strengthen their email authentication practices. Doing so not only helps protect shoppers from phishing during the busiest online shopping week of the year, but also preserve brand integrity as AI rapidly increases the volume, frequency, and sophistication of phishing emails. Key findings Email trust drives clicks and conversions. 64% said they are more likely to click or act on an email that displays a verified brand logo, a critical insight for marketers competing for attention during Cyber Monday and holiday campaigns. Shoppers reward trusted brands. Given four options, nearly half (49%) said that if two competing brands sent similar offers, they would choose the one with a verified logo, suggesting that verified brand identity is not just about safety — it’s about sales. The inbox is the new battleground for brand trust. With 87% of consumers receiving suspicious emails at least a few times a year and 41% believing email providers should do more to protect them, trust in the inbox has become both a security and customer experience issue. Implementing Verified Mark Certificates “Our marketing team has seen a noticeable lift in open and engagement rates since implementing Verified Mark Certificates,” said Ryan Burton, Email & Retention Manager at OddBalls, a UK-based online retailer.  “Having our verified logo appear directly in the inbox gives recipients immediate confidence that the message is authentic. It’s not just a security investment, it’s a brand trust investment. During high-volume periods like Cyber Monday, that trust translates directly into more opens, more clicks, and ultimately, more conversions.” Restoring trust in digital communication “Cyber Monday is a high-stakes moment for both brands and consumers,” said Al Iverson, Industry Strategist at DigiCert.  “Our research shows that visual verification isn’t just about protecting users, it’s about restoring trust in digital communication. A verified logo can be the difference between a customer clicking ‘buy now’ or deleting your message.” The role of VMCs, CMCs, and DMARC Verified Mark Certificates (VMCs) and Common Mark Certificates (CMCs), supported by strong DMARC authentication, form the foundation for displaying verified brand logos in email. Together, they ensure that a brand’s logo appears only when the sender’s identity has been cryptographically confirmed and their domain properly authenticated. This combination not only deters phishing and spoofing attacks but also provides consumers with instant, visual assurance that the message is genuine, transforming trust into a tangible element of the inbox experience.

DigiCert, a global pioneer in intelligent trust, has been selected by Jisc, the UK’s national digital, data and technology agency for education and research, to help secure the future of the UK’s connected learning ecosystem. DigiCert will support the UK education and research community in protecting sensitive data against emerging cyber threats and building the foundations for secure collaboration and innovation. Through Jisc’s national procurement framework, member institutions can now adopt DigiCert’s digital trust solutions without running their own procurement processes. The framework complies with UK public procurement legislation and includes a pre-assessed agreement covering DigiCert’s financial standing, technical capability and sector experience. This streamlined approach gives Jisc members faster access to world-class PKI, TLS and certificate lifecycle management solutions, while saving time, reducing costs and simplifying administration. Empowering the education and research community “At Jisc, our role is to empower the education and research community to use technology safely and effectively,” said Peter Atkins, Head of service management, Trust & Identity, Jisc. “DigiCert’s platform ensures our members have trusted access to proven security solutions that protect data, safeguard networks and support innovation across UK education.” “We’re proud to work with Jisc to help organizations strengthen security and compliance across their digital ecosystems,” said Paul Holt, GVP EMEA at DigiCert. “Our mission is to make it easier for organizations to secure their people, data and infrastructure with digital trust technologies that support the vital work of educators and researchers.” Commitment to supporting digital transformation Jisc provides digital infrastructure, cyber-security, licensing and strategic technology services to all publicly funded universities and colleges in the UK. Its frameworks enable institutions to access vetted suppliers and best-value agreements that simplify procurement while ensuring compliance and trust. The new agreement with DigiCert reflects Jisc’s continuing commitment to supporting digital transformation and protecting the UK’s education and research community.