---
title: "What are certificates?"
slug: "v4managingcertificateswhatarecertificates"
tags: ["technical", "kb-how-to-article"]
updated: 2023-09-19T11:16:31Z
published: 2023-09-19T11:16:31Z
excludeFromSearch: true
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.12dsynergy.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# What are certificates?

12d Synergy requires certificates for secure transfer (HTTPS) when using Files over the Web and when using custom user logins.

Certificates are synonymous to passports in that they verify/establish the identity/trust of a public key(encryption method) to an entity(business, domain name, etc) as verified by a third party (A Certificate Authority).

Without certificates, hackers/unauthorized personnel/attackers could easily compromise and take control of a company’s data residing in their IT infrastructure.