IP Address Certificate
A certificate that secures an IP address instead of a domain name
An IP Address Certificate is an SSL/TLS certificate issued for a specific IP address rather than a domain name. Unlike traditional domain-based certificates that secure websites like example.com, IP address certificates protect services that are accessed directly via their IP address, such as 192.168.1.100 or 203.0.113.45. These certificates are particularly valuable for infrastructure services, IoT devices, cloud instances, and network equipment that operate without domain names.
Let's Encrypt announced plans to offer free IP address certificates in 2025, though they will be short-lived certificates valid for only about six days and require automation for practical use. IP certificates only support HTTP-01 and TLS-ALPN-01 validation challenges since DNS-01 validation doesn't apply to IP addresses. They must be issued for public, internet-routable IPv4 addresses and cannot be used for private network addresses.
This technology fills a long-standing gap in web security by providing trusted encryption for IP-only services that previously had to rely on self-signed certificates or expensive commercial alternatives. [Learn more about Let's Encrypt's IP certificate plans](/blog/lets-encrypt-launches-ip-address-ssl-certificates).
Where You'll See This Term
This term commonly appears in:
- SSL certificate details pages
- Certificate Authority validation processes
- SSL configuration documentation
- Security audit reports
- Certificate management interfaces