A computer-implemented method for providing secure communications between a user device and a secure server, comprising: performing a certificate pinning operation by i) requesting, by the user device from a dynamic host configuration protocol, DHCP, server, a set of public key certificates for the secure server, ii) receiving, by the user device from the DHCP server, the set of public key certificates for the secure server, and iii) storing the set of public key certificates for the secure server within the user device; performing a certificate request operation by i) requesting, by the user device from the secure server, a current public key certificate of the secure server, ii) receiving, by the user device from the secure server, the current public key certificate of the secure server, and iii) storing the current public key certificate of the secure server within the user device; comparing the current public key certificate of the secure server received from the secure server with the set of public key certificates for the secure server received from the DHCP server, and, in response to the current public key certificate of the secure server received from the secure server matching one of the public key certificates in the set of public key certificates for the secure server received from the DHCP server, i) confirming the authenticity of the secure server and ii) permitting communications between the user device and the secure server; wherein performing the certificate pinning operation further comprises detecting, by the user device prior to requesting the set of public key certificates for the secure server from the DHCP server, that the set of public key certificates for the secure server is not available from a directory service that stores multiple sets of public key certificates, wherein the directory service is separate and independent from the DHCP server; and wherein the user device requests the set of public key certificates for the secure server from the DHCP server in response to detecting that the set of public key certificates for the secure server is not available from the directory service. performing a certificate pinning operation by i) requesting, by the user device from a dynamic host configuration protocol, DHCP, server, a set of public key certificates for the secure server, ii) receiving, by the user device from the DHCP server, the set of public key certificates for the secure server, and iii) storing the set of public key certificates for the secure server within the user device; performing a certificate request operation by i) requesting, by the user device from the secure server, a current public key certificate of the secure server, ii) receiving, by the user device from the secure server, the current public key certificate of the secure server, and iii) storing the current public key certificate of the secure server within the user device; comparing the current public key certificate of the secure server received from the secure server with the set of public key certificates for the secure server received from the DHCP server, and, in response to the current public key certificate of the secure server received from the secure server matching one of the public key certificates in the set of public key certificates for the secure server received from the DHCP server, i) confirming the authenticity of the secure server and ii) permitting communications between the user device and the secure server; wherein performing the certificate pinning operation further comprises detecting, by the user device prior to requesting the set of public key certificates for the secure server from the DHCP server, that the set of public key certificates for the secure server is not available from a directory service that stores multiple sets of public key certificates, wherein the directory service is separate and independent from the DHCP server; and wherein the user device requests the set of public key certificates for the secure server from the DHCP server in response to detecting that the set of public key certificates for the secure server is not available from the directory service.