Code change:
The server operator can only use TLS signature schemes for which the CA will issue credentials. <del> These dependencies cause problems in practice.  Server operators often deploy TLS termination services in locations such as remote data centers or Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) where it may be difficult to detect key compromises.  Short-lived certificates may be used to limit the exposure of keys in these cases. However, short-lived certificates need to be renewed more frequently than long-lived certificates.  If an external CA is unable to issue a certificate in time to replace a deployed certificate, the server would no longer be able to present a valid certificate to clients. With short-lived certificates, there is a smaller window of time to renew a certificates and therefore a higher risk that an outage at a CA will negatively affect the uptime of the service. </del> To reduce the dependency on external CAs, this document proposes a limited delegation mechanism that allows a TLS peer to issue its own credentials within the scope of a certificate issued by an external

Related discussion:
text: Addresses .
Refactor intro to: Use case Problem description Solution from . Hi Sean, Thanks for the follow-up. I refreshed my memory as much as I could. Please see my responses in line. Yours, Daniel Sean Turner wrote: I think I would rather take the structure: 1 - Use case 2 - Problem description 3 - Solution I am fine with whatever fits best to you. Server operators often deploy TLS termination services in locations such as remote data centers or Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) where it may be difficult to detect key compromises. Short-lived certificates may be used to limit the exposure of keys in these cases. However, short-lived certificates need to be renewed more frequently than long-lived certificates. If an external CA is unable to issue a certificate in time to replace a deployed certificate, the server would no longer be able to present a valid certificate to clients. With short-lived certificates, there is a smaller window of time to renew a certificates and therefore a higher risk that an outage at a CA will negatively affect the uptime of the service. Typically, a TLS server uses a certificate provided by some entity other than the operator of the server (a "Certification Authority" or CA) [RFC8446 ] [RFC5280 ]. This organizational separation makes the TLS server operator dependent on the CA for some aspects of its operations, for example: Whenever the server operator wants to deploy a new certificate, it has to interact with the CA. The server operator can only use TLS signature schemes for which the CA will issue credentials. To reduce the dependency on external CAs, this document proposes a limited delegation mechanism that allows a TLS peer to issue its own credentials within the scope of a certificate issued by an external CA. These credentials only enable the recipient of the delegation to speak for names that the CA has authorized. Furthermore, this mechanism allows the server to use modern signature algorithms such as Ed25519 [RFC8032 ] even if their CA does not support them. We will refer to the certificate issued by the CA as a "certificate", or "delegation certificate", and the one issued by the operator as a "delegated credential" or "DC". I think my concern has been clarified by Ilari. It was resolved by your b). I am fine with both text. works for me.