diff --git a/ipatests/pytest_ipa/integration/host.py b/ipatests/pytest_ipa/integration/host.py
index cbe5ba7c0..e6a3853e5 100644
--- a/ipatests/pytest_ipa/integration/host.py
+++ b/ipatests/pytest_ipa/integration/host.py
@@ -19,9 +19,11 @@
 
 """Host class for integration testing"""
 import subprocess
+import tempfile
 
 import pytest_multihost.host
 
+from ipaplatform.paths import paths
 from ipapython import ipaldap
 
 
@@ -45,11 +47,25 @@ class Host(pytest_multihost.host.Host):
         """Return an LDAPClient authenticated to this host as directory manager
         """
         self.log.info('Connecting to LDAP at %s', self.external_hostname)
-        ldap = ipaldap.LDAPClient.from_hostname_secure(self.external_hostname)
-        binddn = self.config.dirman_dn
-        self.log.info('LDAP bind as %s' % binddn)
-        ldap.simple_bind(binddn, self.config.dirman_password)
-        return ldap
+        # get IPA CA cert to establish a secure connection
+        cacert = self.get_file_contents(paths.IPA_CA_CRT)
+        with tempfile.NamedTemporaryFile() as f:
+            f.write(cacert)
+            f.flush()
+
+            conn = ipaldap.LDAPClient.from_hostname_secure(
+                self.external_hostname,
+                cacert=f.name
+            )
+
+            binddn = self.config.dirman_dn
+            self.log.info('LDAP bind as %s', binddn)
+            conn.simple_bind(binddn, self.config.dirman_password)
+
+            # The CA cert file  has been loaded into the SSL_CTX and is no
+            # longer required.
+
+        return conn
 
     @classmethod
     def from_env(cls, env, domain, hostname, role, index, domain_index):
diff --git a/ipatests/pytest_ipa/integration/tasks.py b/ipatests/pytest_ipa/integration/tasks.py
index f513e0aba..f103f19ea 100644
--- a/ipatests/pytest_ipa/integration/tasks.py
+++ b/ipatests/pytest_ipa/integration/tasks.py
@@ -303,7 +303,7 @@ def enable_replication_debugging(host, log_level=0):
         replace: nsslapd-errorlog-level
         nsslapd-errorlog-level: {log_level}
         """.format(log_level=log_level))
-    host.run_command(['ldapmodify', '-x',
+    host.run_command(['ldapmodify', '-x', '-ZZ',
                       '-D', str(host.config.dirman_dn),
                       '-w', host.config.dirman_password,
                       ],
diff --git a/ipatests/test_integration/test_backup_and_restore.py b/ipatests/test_integration/test_backup_and_restore.py
index c3cbcc8d8..cb045a22b 100644
--- a/ipatests/test_integration/test_backup_and_restore.py
+++ b/ipatests/test_integration/test_backup_and_restore.py
@@ -815,6 +815,7 @@ class TestReplicaInstallAfterRestore(IntegrationTest):
 
         # disable replication agreement
         arg = ['ldapmodify',
+               '-ZZ',
                '-h', master.hostname,
                '-p', '389', '-D',
                str(master.config.dirman_dn),  # pylint: disable=no-member
diff --git a/ipatests/test_integration/test_commands.py b/ipatests/test_integration/test_commands.py
index 8b2c84fc6..209cd4ef7 100644
--- a/ipatests/test_integration/test_commands.py
+++ b/ipatests/test_integration/test_commands.py
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ class TestIPACommand(IntegrationTest):
             original_passwd=original_passwd)
         master.put_file_contents(ldif_file, entry_ldif)
         arg = ['ldapmodify',
+               '-ZZ',
                '-h', master.hostname,
                '-p', '389', '-D',
                str(master.config.dirman_dn),   # pylint: disable=no-member
@@ -173,7 +174,9 @@ class TestIPACommand(IntegrationTest):
         master.run_command(['kinit', user], stdin_text=user_kinit_stdin_text)
         # Retrieve krblastpwdchange and krbpasswordexpiration
         search_cmd = [
-            'ldapsearch', '-x',
+            'ldapsearch', '-x', '-ZZ',
+            '-h', master.hostname,
+            '-p', '389',
             '-D', 'cn=directory manager',
             '-w', master.config.dirman_password,
             '-s', 'base',
@@ -208,6 +211,7 @@ class TestIPACommand(IntegrationTest):
             new_passwd=new_passwd)
         master.put_file_contents(ldif_file, entry_ldif)
         arg = ['ldapmodify',
+               '-ZZ',
                '-h', master.hostname,
                '-p', '389', '-D',
                str(master.config.dirman_dn),   # pylint: disable=no-member
diff --git a/ipatests/test_integration/test_external_ca.py b/ipatests/test_integration/test_external_ca.py
index 919d4ee52..d2d081535 100644
--- a/ipatests/test_integration/test_external_ca.py
+++ b/ipatests/test_integration/test_external_ca.py
@@ -133,8 +133,9 @@ class TestExternalCA(IntegrationTest):
         result = self.master.run_command([
             'ldapsearch',
             '-x',
-            '-D',
-            'cn=directory manager',
+            '-ZZ',
+            '-h', self.master.hostname,
+            '-D', 'cn=directory manager',
             '-w', self.master.config.dirman_password,
             '-b', 'cn=mapping tree,cn=config',
             '(cn=replica)',
diff --git a/ipatests/test_integration/test_replica_promotion.py b/ipatests/test_integration/test_replica_promotion.py
index e473dc26a..3b0993ab4 100644
--- a/ipatests/test_integration/test_replica_promotion.py
+++ b/ipatests/test_integration/test_replica_promotion.py
@@ -403,6 +403,7 @@ class TestReplicaInstallWithExistingEntry(IntegrationTest):
             realm=replica.domain.name.upper())
         master.put_file_contents(ldif_file, entry_ldif)
         arg = ['ldapmodify',
+               '-ZZ',
                '-h', master.hostname,
                '-p', '389', '-D',
                str(master.config.dirman_dn),   # pylint: disable=no-member
diff --git a/ipatests/test_xmlrpc/test_user_plugin.py b/ipatests/test_xmlrpc/test_user_plugin.py
index 46bdeff28..e6f2bc2ef 100644
--- a/ipatests/test_xmlrpc/test_user_plugin.py
+++ b/ipatests/test_xmlrpc/test_user_plugin.py
@@ -996,6 +996,7 @@ class TestDeniedBindWithExpiredPrincipal(XMLRPC_test):
         cls.connection = ldap_initialize(
             'ldap://{host}'.format(host=api.env.host)
         )
+        cls.connection.start_tls_s()
 
     @classmethod
     def teardown_class(cls):