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Home / Glossary / SCEP
Glossary · Protocol

SCEP

Simple Certificate Enrollment Protocol

In plain language

A way for devices to ask for and receive certificates automatically.

The metaphor

Like a self-serve kiosk that issues ID badges to approved devices.

Going deeper

How it works

  • A device sends a request to a certificate authority.
  • A shared secret proves it is allowed to ask.
  • The certificate is installed without anyone doing it by hand.
  • It is used for Wi-Fi, VPN and device management.
In practice
  • A laptop gets a certificate for office Wi-Fi.
  • A phone gets one when it is enrolled.
  • A router gets one for a VPN.

A question owners ask

Is it safe?

It is fine when it is set up carefully. The shared secret must be protected.

Related terms
AHAuthentication HeaderARPAddress Resolution ProtocolBGPBorder Gateway ProtocolCCMPCounter Mode/CBC-MAC ProtocolCHAPChallenge Handshake Authentication ProtocolCRCCyclical Redundancy CheckEAPExtensible Authentication ProtocolESPEncapsulated Security Payload

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