cert-manager vs EZCA

cert-manager is a free, open-source tool for obtaining and managing X.509 certificates on Kubernetes and OpenShift. It requests certificates from public or private issuers, keeps them valid, and attempts renewal before expiration. The project automates TLS certificate issuance for Kubernetes Ingress and supports private-PKI certificates for pod-to-pod mutual TLS. Documented authority options include Let’s Encrypt, HashiCorp Vault, CyberArk Certificate Manager, and private PKI. Installation can use kubectl-applied manifests, Helm, Flux, or Argo CD. Related projects include istio-csr, approver-policy, Kubernetes CSI drivers, csi-driver-spiffe, and trust-manager; trust-manager distributes X.509 trust bundles and can run independently. cert-manager publishes threat-model and hardening guidance covering secrets, RBAC, networking, and Kubernetes configuration. Its default Helm values prioritize installation ease and backward compatibility over hardened production security. The project has no LTS releases, though each release is supported until the second subsequent version.

EZCA is a cloud PKI service for running certificate authorities without operating the underlying PKI infrastructure yourself. It issues certificates through ACME, EST, and SCEP, and provides APIs for applications and workflows. Certificate uses include users, devices, applications, Wi-Fi, VPN, web services, and IoT, including device authentication for Azure IoT Hub and Azure IoT Central. Integrations include Azure, Entra ID, Intune, Azure Key Vault, and Azure applications; Intune and Jamf are supported for device certificates. EZCA can chain to an existing on-premises CA or bring an AD CS CA into a cloud setup. The maker says its CAs are HSM-backed, with Basic using FIPS 140-3 Level 2 and Premium Level 3. CA changes, requests, and approvals are logged for export to a preferred SIEM, and revocation checks use CRLs and OCSP. Basic costs $200 a month per CA, and a 30-day trial is available; there is no free plan. Plans differ in throughput, support, availability, and infrastructure options.