Cert Manager is a Kubernetes add-on designed to automate the management and issuance of TLS certificates from various sources. It ensures that certificates are valid, periodically updated, and renewed before expiration, thereby enhancing the security and reliability of applications running within Kubernetes clusters. Key Features and Functionality: - Automated Certificate Management: Cert Manager handles the entire lifecycle of TLS certificates, including issuance, renewal, and revocation, reducing manual intervention and potential errors. - Integration with Multiple Issuers: It supports various certificate authorities, including AWS Private Certificate Authority (AWS Private CA, allowing for flexible and secure certificate issuance. - Dynamic Admission Control: Cert Manager can provide dynamic admission control over resources using a webhook server, ensuring that only valid and up-to-date certificates are used within the cluster. - Support for ACME Protocol: It includes an ACME solver component, enabling automated certificate issuance and renewal through ACME-compatible certificate authorities like Let's Encrypt. Primary Value and Problem Solved: Cert Manager addresses the complexity and potential security risks associated with manual TLS certificate management in Kubernetes environments. By automating the processes of certificate issuance, renewal, and validation, it ensures that applications maintain secure communications without the administrative overhead. This automation is particularly valuable in dynamic, containerized environments where services are frequently updated or scaled. Additionally, its integration with AWS Private CA offers a managed and highly available private CA service, enhancing security and compliance for organizations operating within AWS.