Identity & Security

Automated Private PKI with Caddy & Smallstep

Stop managing spreadsheets of internal certificates. We build automated, identity-based encryption pipelines using Caddy as the edge and Smallstep as the private Authority.

Digital Security Encryption

Zero-Trust Internal Communication

Encryption shouldn't be hard. We make mTLS the default, not the exception.

ACME for Private Nets

Leverage the ACME protocol internally. Caddy talks to Smallstep to renew certs automatically without human intervention.

Workload Identity

Certificates are issued based on cryptographically proven identity, ensuring only authorized services can talk to each other.

Short-Lived Certs

Reduce your blast radius. We configure systems to use certificates that expire in hours, not years, minimizing risk.


The Step-CA Workflow

Smallstep acts as your internal Let's Encrypt. By deploying a private CA, your internal microservices gain the same high-grade encryption as your public-facing websites.

  • Root CA Isolation: We keep your root keys offline and secure, using intermediate authorities for daily issuance.
  • Seamless Trust: Automatically distribute root certificates to all your containers and servers.

Zero-Trust Roadmap

Moving to internal mTLS is a journey. Our structured approach ensures your services stay online while we tighten the security perimeters.

1BootstrapInitialize the Smallstep Authority.
2IntegrateConnect Caddy via private ACME.
3EnforceStrict mTLS for all internal traffic.

Declarative mTLS

Configuring internal encryption shouldn't require hundreds of lines of code. With Caddy and Smallstep, it’s a simple block that handles the heavy lifting of key exchange and rotation.

  • No more manual certificates or key file management
  • Automated OCSP stapling for private domains
  • Industry-standard Elliptic Curve (ECDSA) support

# Caddyfile for Internal mTLS


internal.example.com {
  tls {
    ca https://ca.internal:9000/acme/acme/directory
    ca_root /etc/ssl/certs/root.crt
  }
  reverse_proxy localhost:8080
}

Ready to Secure Your Service Mesh?

Eliminate expired certificates and unencrypted internal traffic forever. Let's build your private PKI.