Re: Isolation of the Root CA

From: David Cross [MS] (dcross_at_online.microsoft.com)
Date: 12/02/04


Date: Thu, 2 Dec 2004 05:13:06 -0800

we have a little guidance in this paper:

Windows Server 2003 web enrollment and troubleshooting guide:
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/technologies/security/webenroll.mspx

-- 
David B. Cross [MS]
--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.
Top Whitepapers:
Auto-enrollment whitepaper: 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/technologies/security/autoenro.mspx
Best Practices for implementing Windows Server 2003 PKI: 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/technologies/security/ws3pkibp.mspx
Troubleshooting Certificate Status and Revocation whitepaper: 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/security/topics/crypto/tshtcrl.mspx
Windows Server 2003 web enrollment and troubleshooting guide: 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/technologies/security/webenroll.mspx
Windows Server 2003 web enrollment and troubleshooting guide: 
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/technologies/security/webenroll.mspx
"Perry" <Perry@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message 
news:0D443847-849A-4594-92E1-5A26D05CFCEE@microsoft.com...
> If you want to put your Enterprise CA behind a firewall, is there a best
> practice article on that?  Or can you follow some of the moving MSRPC to
> static mode references.
>
> Thanks,
> Perry
>
> "David Cross [MS]" wrote:
>
>> Our best practices guides may help provide some additional guidance and
>> recommendations:
>>
>> Best Practices for implementing Windows Server 2003 PKI:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windowsserver2003/technologies/security/ws3pkibp.mspx
>>
>>
>>
>> Microsoft Systems Architecture:
>> http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/msa/2/all/solution/en-us/msa20rak/vmhtm122.mspx
>>
>>
>>
>> -- 
>>
>>
>> David B. Cross [MS]
>>
>> --
>> This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no 
>> rights.
>>
>> http://support.microsoft.com
>>
>> "Steven L Umbach" <n9rou@n0-spam-for-me-comcast.net> wrote in message
>> news:xiCnd.120851$R05.15239@attbi_s53...
>> >A lot has to do with the complexity of your network and your security
>> >needs. If you run a network that is going to have a three tier hierarchy 
>> >of
>> >Certificate Authorities with maybe six or eight issuing CA's for various
>> >tasks that are going to issue thousands of certificates then it makes 
>> >sense
>> >to secure the CA's that only issue certificates to other CA's to 
>> >minimize
>> >the damage that can be done to the PKI.
>> >
>> > However many, many smaller networks are going to use PKI to issue some
>> > certificates for l2tp, an internal web server, email, or maybe a
>> > certificate for IAS server to use for 802.1X wireless with PEAP. In 
>> > such
>> > cases a single CA may make sense. You have to ask yourself what would
>> > happen if my CA was compromised and it could not longer be trusted. 
>> > Would
>> > it be an inconvenience, major hassle, or a catastrophe risking highly
>> > confidential data causing possible loss of customers/revenue. Only you 
>> > can
>> > answer that question. If your needs are modest goals to improve 
>> > security
>> > it [in my opinion] probably does not make sense to have an offline CA 
>> > and
>> > then one issuing CA.
>> >
>> > An Enterprise CA can not be an offline CA. You would have to start with 
>> > a
>> > standalone root CA and use it to issue a certificate for an Enterprise 
>> > CA
>> > subordinate. You would have to add alternate locations for the CRL and 
>> > CA
>> > certificate before you use it to issue any certificates. The offline CA
>> > could always be offline and certificate requests and CRL's be copied to
>> > and from floppy disk or it could be put online just as long as it takes 
>> > to
>> > issue the certificates for subordinate CA's. The link below explains 
>> > more.
>> >
>> > http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=271386
>> >
>> > If you feel a single Enterprise CA would work for you there are steps 
>> > you
>> > can take to secure it. First make sure it is physically secured where 
>> > only
>> > a very few trusted users have access to it. Other procedures such as
>> > physically securing domain controllers, and implementing complex 
>> > passwords
>> > are a must. Weak passwords and physical access are still the biggest
>> > threats to a network/domain/computer. Read the Windows 2003 Security 
>> > guide
>> > and first take the steps for a baseline server lockdown and then read 
>> > the
>> > chapter on securing a Certificate Authority Server.   --- Steve
>> >
>> > http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=8a2643c1-0685-4d89-b655-521ea6c7b4db&displaylang=en
>> > http://tinyurl.com/dkbu  -- same link as above, shorter.
>> >
>> >
>> > "Michael Shire" <Michael Shire@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in 
>> > message
>> > news:EABEAF36-B4C5-4FEB-8152-B5BD071C1CEF@microsoft.com...
>> >> Trying to follow the "Step-by-Step Guide to Setting up a Certification
>> >> Authority".
>> >>
>> >> One major thing I can't seem to grasp is the installation of the Root 
>> >> CA.
>> >> As I understand, the Root CA should NEVER be connected to a network. 
>> >> Is
>> >> the
>> >> same true for an Enterprise Root CA?
>> >>
>> >> If so, how can you connect the server to a domain, and have it 
>> >> register
>> >> itself as a Root CA without connecting it to a network?
>> >>
>> >> If not, can the Enterprise Root CA provide the same level of security 
>> >> as
>> >> a
>> >> Stand Alone Root CA?  If the Enterprise Root CA is on the network, how
>> >> can
>> >> you ensure that top level of trust isn't compromised?
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>> 


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