Introduction

Published: March 31, 2005

This guide provides instructions for installing and configuring a public key infrastructure (PKI) and multiple certificate authorities (CAs) in the WSSRA environment. Detailed information about the various options and decisions that were made regarding these services is provided in the Certificate Services Planning Guide.

The design calls for four certificate authorities, one IIS server that is used for certificate revocation list distribution, and a domain environment that can be accessed through at least one domain controller.

FFL-SA-CA-01 is installed as an offline root CA, and is disconnected from the network. The offline root CA is a workgroup member only, and does not belong to any domain (which would require network connectivity).

FFL-SA-CA-02 is an offline standalone intermediate CA that also runs on a workgroup server that is disconnected from the network.

Servers FFL-RT-CA-01 and FFL-RT-CA-02 will issue CAs, as they are connected to the network and participate as domain members.

Note: Appendix 14.16 provides a summary of all the parameters that where used in the building of the certificate service.

On This Page
Knowledge PrerequisitesKnowledge Prerequisites
RolesRoles
Service PrerequisitesService Prerequisites

Knowledge Prerequisites

Successful completion of the steps detailed in this guidance requires a certain level of technical knowledge. The guidance in this document is written assuming the following level of experience and knowledge:

Two years of NT 4.0 experience in a networked environment

Three months of experience with the type of service or technology being built.

Access (including Web site links) to existing manuals/guides for the specific service, technology, or product being built or operated.

Roles

The following tables show the relationships between the different certificate services roles and the accounts that serve in those roles.

IDTaskServerAccount/Permissions RequiredRoleMOF Quadrant

0.1

Preparing the Internal Management Server

FFL-NA-MGT-01

Local Administrator

The account must have permissions to create a file folder and copy files to the system.

Server Owner

Build

0.2.1

Creating Active Directory Groups and Users

CI Management Server

Administrator@na.corp.contoso.com

The account requires user and group maintenance permissions.

OU Owner

Build

0.2.2

Granting Permissions to the Public Key Services Container

CI Management Server

Administrator@corp.contoso.com

The account must have change permissions in the Active Directory configuration container that maintains the Public Key Infrastructure configuration (CN=Public Key Services, CN=Services, CN=Configuration, DC=...)

Forest Owner - Enterprise Admin

Operate

0.2.3

Installing V2 Certificate Templates

CI Management Server

Administrator@corp.contoso.com

To install certificate templates, the account must be a member of the Enterprise Admin group.

Forest Owner - Enterprise Admin

Build

0.3

Preparing the Perimeter Management Server for CA Certificate and CRL Publication

CP Management Server

Local Administrator

The account must have permissions to create a file folder and copy files to the system.

Server Owner

Build

0.4

Creating An Internal Web Site for CA Certificate and CRL Publication

Web-Server

Local Administrator

IIS Admin

Build

0.5

Creating an External Web Site for CA Certificate and CRL Publication

Web-Server

Local Administrator

IIS Admin

Build

0.6

Creating DNS Records for Your CRL Distribution Points

DNS-server

Local Administrator

DNS owner

Build

0.7

Verifying DNS Configuration With a Sample Certificate Practice Document

CI Management Server

EntPKIpublisher01@na.corp.contoso.com

The task needs to be performed with an account that has write permissions on the publication location.

Enterprise PKI publisher

Build

Table 1. Certificate Services-General Roles and Accounts

IDTaskPerformed at ComputerAccount/Permissions RequiredRoleMOF Quadrant

1.1.1, 2.1.1

Verifying Workgroup Membership

FFL-SA-CA-01

Local Administrator

The account must be a member of the server’s Everyone security group. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

1.1.2, 2.1.2

Disabling All Network Interfaces at the CA Computer

FFL-SA-CA-01

Local Administrator

Any account that is a member of the server’s Network Configuration Operators group or Administrators group. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

OS Network Configuration Owner

Build

1.1.3

Preparing the capolicy.inf File

FFL-SA-CA-01

Local Administrator

Write permissions in the Windows directory are required. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

1.1.4

Installing the Software Components

FFL-SA-CA-01

Local Administrator

Only members of the local Administrators security group can install Windows components. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

1.1.5

Verifying the CA Installation

FFL-SA-CA-01

Local Administrator

Technically, any account with read permissions on the CA object can perform this operation. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

1.1.6

Configuring the CA Service

FFL-SA-CA-01

Local Administrator

Write permissions in the registry hive HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\
CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc are required. Members of the local Administrators and Server Operators security groups can maintain the CA configuration in the registry. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

1.1.7

Verifying the CA Configuration

FFL-SA-CA-01, FFL-SA-CA-02

Local Administrator

Technically, any account with read permissions on the CA object can perform this operation. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

1.1.8

Preparing Local Security Groups

FFL-SA-CA-01

Local Administrator

User and group management permission are required to maintain local user accounts. Technically, the account requires “Act as part of the operating system” permissions on the local system. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Operate

1.1.9

Delegating CA Permissions

FFL-SA-CA-01

Local Administrator

Technically, any account with manage permissions on the CA object can perform this operation. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is permitted at this time.

Server Owner

Operate

1.1.10

Delegating Local Auditing Permissions

FFL-SA-CA-01

Local Administrator

The account requires permissions to configure local security policies. Members of the local Administrators group have this permission by default.

Server Owner

Operate

1.1.11

Enabling Local Object Access Auditing

FFL-SA-CA-01, FFL-SA-CA-02

Local Administrator

The account requires permissions to configure local security policies. Members of the local Administrators group have this permission by default.

Server Owner

Operate

1.2.1

Copying the CA Certificate to Removable Media

FFL-SA-CA-01, FFL-SA-CA-02

Local caAdmin01

To retrieve the CA certificate from the CA, read permissions are required on the CA object. The CA service must be started.

CA Owner

Operate

1.2.2

Copying the CRL to Removable Media

FFL-SA-CA-01, FFL-SA-CA-02

Local caAdmin01

Manage permissions are required to generate a new CRL version.

CA owner

Operate

1.3.1

Publishing a CA Certificate and CRL to An Internal Facing Web Server

CI Management Server

EntPKIpublisher01@na.corp.contoso.com

The account requires local logon permissions at the CI Management server, which is ensured by membership of the custom security group Management Server Users.

Also, write permissions are required for the C:\WWWPKIpub directory and the corresponding shared folder on the internal Web servers.

Enterprise PKI publisher

Operate

1.3.2

Publishing a CA Certificate and CRL to An External Facing Web Server

CI Management Server

EntPKIpublisher01@na.corp.contoso.com

The account requires local logon permissions at the CI Management server and the CP Management server, which is ensured by membership of the custom security group Management Server Users.

Also, write permissions are required for the C:\WWWPKIpub directory and the corresponding shared folder on the perimeter Web servers.

Enterprise PKI publisher

Operate

1.3.3

Publishing a Root CA Certificate in Active Directory Manually

CI Management Server

EntPKIpublisher01@na.corp.contoso.com

The account that is used to publish the root CA certificate manually into Active Directory requires write permissions corresponding to the "General: Granting Permissions to the Public Key Services Container" section in this guide.

Enterprise PKI publisher

Operate

Table 2. Certificate Services-Root CA Roles and Accounts

IDTaskComputerAccount/Permissions RequiredRoleMOF Quadrant

2.1.1

Verifying Workgroup Membership

FFL-SA-CA-02

Refer to Root CA ID 1.1.1

Server Owner

Build

2.1.2

Disabling All Network Interfaces at the CA Computer

FFL-SA-CA-02

Refer to Root CA ID 1.1.2

OS Network Configuration Owner

Build

2.1.3

Preparing the capolicy.inf File

FFL-SA-CA-02

Refer to Root CA ID 1.1.3

Server Owner

Build

2.1.4

Installing the CA Software Components

FFL-SA-CA-02

Refer to Root CA ID 1.1.4

Server Owner

Build

2.2

Certificate Request Submission at Parent CA

FFL-SA-CA-01

Submitting a certificate request requires enrollment permissions on the CA object.

This is an operations task because it has to be repeated each time when the CA certificate requires a renewal.

With delegated CA permissions:

CertRequester01 - Members of the custom security group CertRequesters can submit certificate requests to the CA because they have been permitted to request certificates.

Without delegated CA permissions:

Administrator - Any account that is a member of the Everyone group has read and certificate request permissions by default. The Administrator is a member of Everyone and is able to submit the certificate request.

Certificate requestor

Operate

2.3

Certificate Approval at Parent CA

FFL-SA-CA-01

Approving a certificate request requires certificate manager permissions on the CA object.

This is an operations task because manual certificate approval is a usual operation.

With delegated CA permissions:

CertManager01 - A member of the Certificate Managers group must approve the CA certificate request when the request has been submitted.

Without delegated CA permissions:

Administrator - The computers administrators group has certificate management permissions by default.

Certificate Manager

Operate

2.4.1

Importing a CRL Into the Local Certificate Store

FFL-SA-CA-02

Local Administrator

The registry hive that maintains certificates in the local computer certificate store limits write permissions to members of the local administrators group by default. Because of the restrictive permissions on the certificate store, the account must be a member of the local Administrators group to perform this operation. The local administrator is also the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Operate

2.4.2

Installing the Root CA Certificate

FFL-SA-CA-02

Local Administrator

The registry hive that maintains the CA certificates limits write permissions to members of the local administrators group by default. Because of the restrictive permissions on the certificate store, the account must be a local administrator to perform this operation. The local administrator is also the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Operate

2.4.3

Configure the CA Service

FFL-SA-CA-02

Local Administrator

Write permissions in the registry hive HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\ SYSTEM\ CurrentControlSet\ Services\ CertSvc are required. Members of the local Administrators and Server Operators security groups can maintain the CA configuration in the registry. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

2.4.3

Installing the CA Certificate

FFL-SA-CA-02

Local Administrator

To install a CA certificate, local administrator permissions are required because only the administration is allowed to add certificates to the machine’s certificate store.

Server Owner

Build

2.4.4

Verifying the CA Configuration

FFL-SA-CA-02

Local Administrator

Technically, any account with read permissions on the CA object can perform this operation. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

2.4.5

Configuring Different CA Roles

FFL-SA-CA-02

Local Administrator

Technically, any account with manage permissions on the CA object can perform this operation. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Operate

2.5

Copying the CA Certificate to Removable Media

FFL-SA-CA-02

Only Accounts with manage permissions can create a new CRL version.

Without delegated CA permissions:

Administrator - The local administrator is usually responsible for CA maintenance tasks and has Manage permissions on the CA object by default.

With delegated CA permissions:

caAdmin01 - Members of the caAdmins security group are responsible to manage the CA and have manage permissions to publish the CA.

CA owner

Operate

2.6

Copying the CA CRL to Removable Media

FFL-SA-CA-02

caAdmin01@na.crop.contoso.com

Everyone has permissions to read the CRL file, but CA management permissions are required to initiate a CRL publication.

CA owner

Operate

2.7.1

Publishing a CA Certificate and CRL to An Internal Facing Web Server

CI Management Server

EntPKIpublisher01@na.corp.contoso.com

The account must have write permissions on the distribution point.

PKI publisher

Operate

2.7.2

Publishing a CA Certificate and CRL to An External Facing Web Server

CI Management Server

EntPKIpublisher01@na.corp.contoso.com

The account must have write permissions on the distribution point.

PKI publisher

Operate

Table 3. Certificate Services-Intermediate CA Roles and Accounts

IDTaskComputerAccount/Permissions RequiredRoleMOF Quadrant

3.1.1

Configuring Network Adapters and IP Addresses

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Build

3.1.2

Disabling Unnecessary Bindings

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Any account that is a member of the server’s Network Configuration Operators or Administrators groups. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Build

3.1.3

Configuring NIC Teaming

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Any account that is a member of the server’s Network Configuration Operators or Administrators groups. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

OS Network Configuration Owner

Build

3.1.4

Joining the Computer to the Domain

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Any authenticated user has permissions to join a computer with the domain.

User Role

Build

3.2.1

Preparing the capolicy.inf File

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Write permissions in the WINDOWS directory are required. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

3.2.2

Installing the CA Software Components

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Administrator@corp.contoso.com

Installing the first enterprise CA in a forest must have Root Domain Administrator, Enterprise Administrator, and local Administrator permissions; all subsequent CA installs require Enterprise Administrator and local Administrator permission because the installation procedure must register the CA as an enrollment service in Active Directory. When the first CA is installed, also base objects are created in Active Directory. These objects are leveraged by subsequent CAs.

Forest Owner - Enterprise Admin

Build

3.3.1

Generating a Unique OID

FFL-RT-CA-01

EntPKIadmin01@na.corp.contoso.com

To create a new OID, the current account must have write permissions to the OID configuration container in Active Directory. Enterprise Administrators have this permission by default. Members of the custom EntPKIAdmins security group have appropriate permissions per the “General: Creating Active Directory Groups and Users” section in this guide.

Enterprise PKI Administrator

Build

3.3.2

Injecting the Policy Into the Certificate Request

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

EntPKIadmin01@na.corp.contoso.com

Technically, any account that has read and write permissions on the file folders that store to request and inf-files can prepare the certificate request.

Enterprise PKI Administrator

Build

3.4

Certificate Request Submission at Parent CA

FFL-SA-CA-02

Local certRequester01

Submitting a certificate request requires enrollment permissions on the CA object.

Without delegated CA permissions:

Administrator-Any account that is a member of the Everyone group has certificate request permissions by default. The Administrator is a member of Everyone and is able to submit the certificate request.

With delegated CA permissions:

CertRequesters-Members of the custom security group CertRequesters can submit certificate requests to the CA because they have been permitted to request certificates.

Certificate requester

Operate

3.5

Certificate Approval at Parent CA

FFL-SA-CA-02

Local CertManager01

Approving a certificate request requires certificate manager permissions on the CA object.

Without delegated CA permissions:

Administrator-The computers administrators group has certificate management permissions by default.

With delegated CA permissions:

CertManagers-A member of the Certificate Managers group must approve the CA certificate request when the request has been submitted.

Certificate Manager

Operate

3.6

Verifying CA and CRL Accessibility

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

This task requires read permissions on the CA and CRL distribution point. The distribution point is configured to allow anonymous read access. Because the local administrator is not a domain account, it behaves as an anonymous account.

CA owner

3.7

Denying Certificate Request Permissions

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Managing CA permissions requires CA manager permissions on the CA object.

The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

CA owner

Operate

3.8.1

Configuring the CA Service

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Write permissions in the Registry hive HKLM\SYSTEM\
CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc are required. Members of the local Administrators and Server Operators security groups can maintain the CA configuration in the registry. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

3.8.2

Installing a CA Certificate

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

The registry hive that maintains the CA certificates limits write permissions to members of the local administrators group by default. Because of the restrictive permissions on the certificate store, you must be a local administrator to perform this operation. The local administrator is also the only user account that is available at this time.

The CA certificate installation is an operational task because it needs to be repeated every time when the CA certificate needs to be renewed.

CA owner

Operate

3.8.3

Post Configuration Tasks

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Permissions are required to start the CA service. Management permissions are required to detach the default certificate templates.

CA owner

Build

3.8.4

Verifying the CA Configuration

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Technically, any account with read permissions on the CA object can perform this operation. The local administrator has this permission by default and is the only user account that is available at this time.

Server Owner

Build

3.9.1

Verifying the CRL Publication On the Fileshare

CI Management Server

EntPKIpublisher01@na.corp.contoso.com

Any account with read permissions on the publication file-share can verify the publication.

Enterprise PKI publisher

Operate

3.9.2

Verify Information in Active Directory

CI Management Server

EntPKIadmin01@na.corp.contoso.com

Any account that is treated as authenticated user can be used to perform this task.

Enterprise PKI Administrator

Operate

3.10

Creating Local CA Management Accounts

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Members of the local administrators group only can create local user accounts.

Server owner

Build

3.11

Configuring Different CA Roles

CI Management Server

Administrator@corp.contoso.com

The account requires CA management permissions and must be an authenticated domain user.

CA owner

Operate

3.12

Enforcing Role Separation

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

Local Administrator

Write permissions in the Registry hive HKLM\SYSTEM\
CurrentControlSet\Services\CertSvc are required. Members of the local Administrators and Server Operators security groups can maintain the CA configuration in the registry. The local administrator has this permission by default.

Server Owner

Operate

3.13

Issuing CA: Publishing the CA Certificate

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

EntPKIpublisher01@na.corp.contoso.com

The account requires logon locally permissions at the <PKIciManagementServer> and <PKIexManagmentServer> and file creating permissions on the Web server file shares.

Enterprise PKI publisher

Operate

3.14

Allowing Certificate Requests

FFL-RT-CA-01, FFL-RT-CA-02

caAdmin01@na.corp.contoso.com

The account requires manage permissions on the CA object and must have read permissions on the templates that should be assigned.

CA owner

Operate

3.15

Moving Servers to the Domain Organizational Unit

CI Management Server

Administrator@corp.contoso.com

The account must have create and delete object permissions in the source and destination container/OU.

OU owner

Operate

3.16

Enabling Certificate Autoenrollment

CI Management Server

Administrator@na.corp.contoso.com

The account requires domain Group Policy management permissions.

Domain Administrator

Operate

3.17

Configuring Certificate Authority Service Permissions

CI Management Server

Administrator@na.corp.contoso.com

The account requires domain Group Policy management permissions.

Domain Owner

Operate

Table 4. Certificate Services-Issuing CA Roles and Accounts

IDTaskComputerAccount/Permissions RequiredRoleMOF Quadrant

4.1.1

Creating Certificate Templates for RAS Clients

CI Management Server

EntPKIadmin01@na.corp.contoso.com

The account must have change permissions in the Active Directory configuration container that maintains the certificate templates CN=Certificate Templates, CN=Public Key Services, CN=Services, CN=Configuration, DC=...

Certificate Template Administrator

Build

4.1.2

Creating a Certificate Template for VPN Servers

CI Management Server

Refer to ID 4.1.1

Refer to ID 4.1

Build

4.1.3

Creating a Certificate Template for IAS Servers

CI Management Server

Refer to ID 4.1.1

Refer to ID 4.1

Build

4.1.4

Creating a Certificate Template for IIS Servers That Are Not Domain Members

CI Management Server

Refer to ID 4.1.1

Refer to ID 4.1

Build

4.1.5

Creating a Certificate Template for Domain Member IIS Servers

CI Management Server

Refer to ID 4.1.1

Refer to ID 4.1

Build

4.1.6

Attaching Certificate Templates

CI Management Server

EntPKIadmin01@na.corp.contoso.com

The account must have read permissions for the template and must have manage permissions at the CA.

Certificate Template Administrator

Operate

4.1.7

Verifying a Certificate Template for a Specific Attribute from the Command Line

CI Management Server

EntPKIadmin01@na.corp.contoso.com

Any account that has read permissions for the template can read the certificate templates details.

Certificate Template Administrator

Operate

4.2

IIS Certificate Request Submission

CI Management Server

IISadmin@na.corp.contoso.com

Submitting a certificate request requires enrollment permissions on the CA object. Everyone has this permission by default.

Web server administrator

Operate

4.3

IIS Certificate Approval at an Online CA

CI Management Server

Caadmin01@na.corp.contoso.com

Approving a certificate request requires certificate manager permissions on the CA object.

Without delegated CA permissions:

Administrator-The computers administrators group has certificate management permissions by default.

With delegated CA permissions:

CertManagers-A member of the Certificate Managers group must approve the CA certificate request when the request has been submitted.

Certificate Manager

Operate

4.4

Manual VPN Server Certificate Request Submission at an Issuing CA

CI Management Server

Any account that has enrollment permissions on the CA and can read the template can submit a request.

Certificate Manager

Operate

4.5.1

VPN Server Certificate Approval

CI Management Server, FFL-RT-CA-03

certmanager01@na.corp.contoso.com, Administrator

Any account that has certificate management permissions can approve the certificate request.

Certificate Manager

Operate

4.5.2

Exporting the CA1 Root Certificate

CI Management Server

certmanager01@na.corp.contoso.com

Read permissions on the PFX file that was created in the previous step.

Certificate Manager

Operate

4.6.1

Verifying Certificate Autoenrollment Settings at a VPN Client Computer

VPN client computer

VPN_certificate_users member

Authenticated user permissions are required to examine group policies that have been applied.

User

Operate

4.6.2

Verifying VPN Client Certificate Auto-enrollment

VPN client computer

VPN_certificate_users member

Authenticated user permissions are required to examine group policies that have been applied.

User

Operate

4.7

Verifying IAS Server Certificate Auto-enrollment

ISA server

IAS and RAS Administrator

IAS and RAS administrator

Operate

Table 5. Certificate Services-Additional Role/Account Considerations

Service Prerequisites

The following table contains a list of those services that are required for implementing certificate services as described in this guide.

Prerequisite ElementPrerequisite CheckVerified

Network Devices

Ensure that the network is in place and configured as defined in the Network Devices Build Guide.

Computing Devices

Ensure that all servers are installed and powered on as defined in the Computing Devices Build Guide.

Deployment Services

Ensure that all the servers have the operating system and base configuration completed as defined in the Deployment Services Build Guide.

Directory Service

Ensure that the appropriate domains, organizational units, and group policies have been created and are operational as defined in the Directory Service Build Guide.

Firewall Services

Ensure that the interior and perimeter firewall devices have been installed, configured, and are operational as defined in the Firewall Services Build Guide.

DNS Services

Ensure that the interior and perimeter DNS servers are configured and operational as defined in the "DNS" section in the Network Services Build Guide.

Web Application Services

Ensure that the interior and perimeter web servers are configured and operational as defined in the Web Application Services Build Guide.

Infrastructure Management Services

Ensure that the interior and perimeter management servers are configured and operational as defined in the Infrastructure Management Services Build Guide.

Table 6. Certificate Services Service Prerequisites


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