Info: Functionality Scheduled for Deprecation

Summary

Occasionally, we remove functionality from Trust Protection Platform to stay current with emerging technologies and to serve the changing needs of our customers. Some of the more common reasons for deprecating features include the following:

• Minimal use of a feature by the majority of our customers
• Technologies that have become obsolete
• Features that have become too expensive to maintain
• Changes in our technology road map 
• Important security enhancements to Trust Protection Platform

See Also:

For a list of features that have been deprecated prior to the current release, visit:

https://support.venafi.com/hc/en-us/articles/115001578651

Scheduled Feature Deprecations

Although planned feature deprecations are subject to change, the following list indicates which features are planned for removal from upcoming releases of Trust Protection Platform:

Venafi Platform 20.1

WebSDK Authorization Method involving API Keys (Deprecated)
In 19.2, Trust Protection Platform introduced a new token authorization method (modeled after OAuth 2.0) for WebSDK with several advantages including longer session validity, support for load balancing WebSDK servers, and better, more granular access controls (scopes/privileges).  As such, the old authorization method that involves API keys will be moved to deprecated status in 20.1, begin requiring a special license in 20.3, and with end-of-support targeted for 21.1.

The following methods are also deprecated: POST Authorize, POST Authorize/Certificate, GET Authorize/CheckValid, GET Authorize/Integrated. In the new Auth SDK, instead of an API key, you must  use the Auth SDK to get and manage bearer tokens.

Remove SSH connection method for the Citrix NetScaler driver
In 17.1, we began the transition from SSH CLI to the NetScaler REST API. When we updated the NetScaler driver and introduced Onboard Discovery. We continued to support the SSH CLI so customers would have time to migrate existing instances over.  After nearly 3 years, the legacy connection method will be removed.

Remove SSH connection method for the IBM DataPower driver
In 17.3, we began the transition from SSH CLI to the DataPower REST API. We updated the DataPower driver and introduced Onboard Discovery. We continued to support the SSH CLI so customers would have time to migrate existing instances over.  After over 2 years, the legacy connection method will be removed.

Splunk Driver
In 19.3, we made significant enhancements to our Syslog driver which we believe, based on feedback from customers and Splunk themselves, provides an overall better integration path that the Splunk driver which is delivering event data in a manner that is not common for enterprise applications.  Thus the Splunk driver will be removed from the Venafi Platform in 20.1.

Special Certificate Placement Behavior for Network Discovery
Since 14.3 - when we find multiple generational versions of the same certificate on use in the network, the TLS product had special behavior in how certificates were stored.  The product would create multiple certificate objects and move the appropriate applications/installations to the two certificate objects to represent where they are installed.
Starting in 20.1 - we will no longer have this special behavior and the placement will be more in line with the behavior experienced with Server Agent Discovery Placement.  When there are multiple generations of the same certificate discovered - we will rely on daily validation to notify certificate owners that the old certificates are still in use. 
Note: This deprecation is also being backported to 19.4.x via a patch.

Venafi Platform 20.2

Drop Support for SQL 2012 and SQL Server 2014 Support
Beginning in 20.2, Venafi Trust Protection Platform will no longer support SQL Server 2012 and SQL Server 2014. SQL Server 2016 SP1 Standard will be the minimum version that we support.  This is required in order to leverage the Table Partitioning Feature that Microsoft has made available in SQL Server 2016 SP1.

A10 AX Series Application Driver
The A10 Networks AX Series ADC product is now obsolete so the corresponding application driver will be removed from Trust Protection Platform in 20.2. This integration has been transitioned the partner ecosystem where A10 Networks is offering provisioning support for their Thunder ADC products at https://marketplace.venafi.com/apps/218513/a10-thunder-adc.

Juniper SAS Application Driver
The Juniper Secure Access Service product is now obsolete so the corresponding application driver will be removed from Trust Protection Platform in 20.2.  Customers seeking support for integration with the replacement product (Pulse Connect Secure SSL VPN) should contact their Pulse Secure account team about joining the Venafi Technology Partner Network.

Eliminate Manual Approval option for DigiCert CA
DigiCert has recommended that we update our driver to take advantage of a new "skip_approval" option which streamlines processing on their side for up to a 30% increase in performance.  As a result, Venafi Platform workflow will be the only method for requiring human approval of certificate requests beginning in 20.2.

WebAdmin Dashboard
Starting in 20.2, The Dashboard available in WebAdmin will no longer be available.  The only Dashboards available will be the ones offered in Aperture.

Aperture User Search Permission
This particular user/group permission will no longer be available.  It was only used for controller who had permissions to Inventory -> Identities.  However, we plan on making this menu item available to all authenticated users as it is renamed to "My Teams" and moved under the user menu.  Because of this change, the permission is no longer needed.

WebAdmin Tree Selection Preference
We are working on a feature that will unify navigation between WebAdmin and Aperture.  The top navigation will be the same and allow easy switching between both consoles.  Because of this unification - we are evaluating the differences in navigation and some of the WebAdmin preferences are being removed.  Most notable would be the preference that allows you to set your default tree on login to WebAdmin.

GeoTrust TrueFlex CA Driver
DigiCert has announced March 30 as the end-of-life for their GeoTrust TrueFlex CA so the corresponding and obsolete driver will be removed from Trust Protection Platform in 20.2.  DigiCert is migrating affected customers to CertCentral so they will have already transitioned to our DigiCert CA driver in advance of upgrading to 20.2.

Thawte CA Driver
DigiCert has announced March 30 as the end-of-life for their Thawte CA so the corresponding and obsolete driver will be removed from Trust Protection Platform in 20.2.  DigiCert is migrating affected customers to CertCentral so they will have already transitioned to our DigiCert CA driver in advance of upgrading to 20.2.

Venafi Platform 20.3

Server Agent AIX 5.3 and 6.1 Support
In order to allow continued updates for Venafi Server Agent on AIX, update in the used toolchain is required. Versions 5.3 and 6.1 of AIX are no longer supported by IBM and an updated toolchain is not available for them. With this release the lowest supported version of AIX will be raised to AIX 7.1 TL 5. 

Server Agent TLS 1.1 Support
Server Agents will require TLS 1.2 or newer when connecting to TPP servers. Load balancers used between Server Agents and the TPP servers will need to be updated/reconfigured to not perform protocol downgrade beyond TLS 1.2.    

Venafi Platform 21.1

WebSDK Authorization Method involving API Keys (End-of-Support)
The WebSDK authorization method that involves API keys was formally deprecated in Trust Protection Platform 20.1 and will no longer be available in code beginning in 21.1.