How SAML certificate renewal works - and what happens when it fails

SAML certificates are crucial for maintaining secure Single Sign-On (SSO) connections but require periodic renewal to prevent security breaches and service disruptions. The manual renewal process involves monitoring expiration dates, generating new certificates, updating metadata on both identity provider (IdP) and service provider (SP) ends, and testing the connection. WorkOS simplifies this process by providing clear expiration alerts, automated notifications, and an option for automatic certificate renewal through SAML metadata URLs. Automated renewal reduces downtime risk, frees up resources, and provides peace of mind. Failure to renew certificates in a timely manner can lead to immediate service disruptions and potential security vulnerabilities.