Sole Proprietor EV Code Signing

EV-level code signing for individuals — instant SmartScreen reputation, kernel-mode driver signing, and signatures that never expire. No business entity required.

Key Benefits

Instant SmartScreen reputation

EV certificates receive immediate SmartScreen reputation — zero download warning on first install, just like standard EV.

No business entity required

Validated as an individual — your verified personal name appears on every signed installer.

Kernel-mode driver signing

Required for Windows 10 kernel-mode and user-mode drivers — now accessible to individual developers.

Windows Hardware Dev Center access

Required for Dashboard Portal submission — accessible to sole proprietors.

Who Is It For?

Sole proprietors & independent developers

Needing instant SmartScreen reputation without a registered business entity.

Individual driver & firmware authors

EV is required for kernel-mode drivers — now accessible to individuals.

Freelancers & open-source maintainers

Distributing software with zero SmartScreen friction from day one.

Individual Windows Hardware partners

Requiring Dashboard Portal access for driver submission.

Purchase & Pricing

1. Select Certificate Duration

1 Year
$359.00/yr
2 Years
Save 14%
$308.74/yr
3 Years
Save 29%
$254.89/yr
4 Years
Save 37%
$226.17/yr
5 Years
Save 44%
$201.04/yr

2. Select Key Storage & Delivery (optional)

YubiKey

Physical Token
+ $279.00
YubiKey Quantity $279 each

YubiKey & EV certificates: YubiKey tokens are fully suitable for OV code signing. If you require EV code signing — particularly for kernel-mode driver signing (Microsoft HLK) — a YubiKey may not meet those requirements. Contact us to discuss EV-compatible token options.

Delivery Queue

Standard

3–5 business days after validation (Continental US)

Express + $329.00

1 day after validation

Bring Your own Cloud HSM

Self-managed infrastructure
+ Starting at $500.00

SSL.com must attest your key to your chosen provider before issuing the certificate. This fee is a one-time charge per order.

AWS CloudHSM
Attestation Fee
$1,500
Google Cloud HSM
Attestation Fee
$1,500
Azure Dedicated HSM
Attestation Fee
$500.00

What is attestation? Before issuing your certificate, SSL.com verifies that your private key was generated and is stored inside your cloud HSM — not exportable to software. This one-time attestation fee covers the verification process with your chosen provider.

Looking for a simpler option? SSL.com eSigner for Code provides cloud-based signing with no HSM to provision, no attestation fee, and a lower total cost for most teams.

Bring your own on-premises HSM

SSL performs an attestation ceremony for your compliant on-premises HSM.
+ Custom Pricing

Please contact sales.


3. Validation Speed (optional)

Choose how quickly your organization or identity is validated before your certificate is issued.

Standard

3–5 day validation Ā· 2–3 day US shipping Validation completed after all agreements, entity info submitted, and a successful callback to a listed phone number. International shipping tracked; delivery subject to customs. Included

Expedited

2 business day validation Ā· overnight US delivery 2 business days priority validation from first complete submission and callback. Token shipped overnight in continental US. +$599.00

How It Works

1 — Purchase

Select Sole Proprietor EV duration and complete your order.

2 — Individual EV validation

SSL.com validates your individual identity using extended validation procedures — no registered business entity required.

3 — Certificate issued

Certificate delivered with your verified personal name. Must be stored on a FIPS 140-2 validated hardware token or cloud HSM.

4 — Sign your code

Use signtool.exe with your hardware token.

5 — Timestamp

Always timestamp at signing — EV signed code remains trusted permanently with a valid timestamp.

Compliance & Standards

CA/B Forum EV Code Signing Requirements

Issued under CA/B Forum EV Code Signing Baseline Requirements — same standard as organizational EV.

WebTrust for Code Signing BR

SSL.com is audited annually by BDO under WebTrust for Code Signing Baseline Requirements.

Microsoft Authenticode (EV)

Required for kernel-mode drivers and immediate Microsoft SmartScreen reputation.

Windows Hardware Dev Center

EV certificate required for portal access and driver submission — available to sole proprietors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Both deliver identical EV trust — immediate SmartScreen reputation, kernel-mode driver signing, and timestamped signatures. The difference: standard EV validates a registered business entity; Sole Proprietor EV validates an individual or sole proprietor without requiring a registered organization.

If you need instant SmartScreen reputation, kernel-mode driver signing, or Windows Hardware Dev Center access, choose Sole Proprietor EV. For basic code signing trust only, IV Code Signing is a lower-cost option — SmartScreen builds over time with IV.

CA/B Forum EV requirements mandate that EV private keys be stored in a FIPS 140-2 Level 2 validated HSM. You can use a physical hardware token or enroll in a cloud HSM service, which satisfies the requirement without buying physical hardware.

No — if you timestamp at signing time, the signature remains valid indefinitely. Always timestamp your code at signing.

Ready to get Sole Proprietor EV Code Signing?

Instant SmartScreen reputation for individuals — no business entity required. Works with hardware tokens and cloud HSMs for flexible key storage.

Related Products

IV Code Signing

Individual developer — personal name on installer, SmartScreen builds over time.

OV Code Signing

Organization signing without EV requirements — your company name on every signed installer.

EV Code Signing

Organization with a registered business entity — same EV trust, validated at org level.

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