Among the cool new features in SQL Server 2019, one stands out that I remember being a pain in the butt with earlier versions: Certificate Management in SQL Server Configuration Manager.
In previous versions of SQL Server Configuration Manager (pre-2019), you would install a certificate on a server then select it from the drop down in Configuration Manager. You only had the option view/select from a drop down (see screenshot below).
![SQL Server 2016 Configuration Manager](https://mohammaddarab.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SQL-Server-2016-Configuration-Manager.png)
With the new update, you can do a lot more. According to Microsoft, you can do the following:
- View and validate certificates installed in a SQL Server instance
- View certificates close to expiration
- Deploy certificates across machines participating in Availability Groups (this can only be done from the Primary Replica)
- Deploy certificates across machines participating in a Failover Cluster Instance (this can be done from the active node)
(See screenshot below)
![SQL Server Configuration Manager 2019](https://mohammaddarab.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/SQL-Server-Configuration-Manager-2019.png)
All these updates makes the management of certificates easier. You might be wondering, “couldn’t they have added these features a while ago?” Sure. But, why complain? :)