How to Run Your Own Certificate Authority

There are many packages around for different operating system environments, including OpenSSL (multi-platform) and Keychain Assistant (part of OS X.) For the purposes of this guide we will use SimpleAuthority, a GUI -driven application which is available for Linux, Windows and OS X. The software is free for up to 4 users, $50 for up to 50 users, and $860 for 50 or more users.

Software that issues certificates needs to be secure, so it is highly recommended you install SimpleAuthority on a dedicated server. Once SimpleAuthority has been installed, the first thing you'll be asked to do before you can issue any certificates is create a new Certificate Authority.

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Related Stories:

• SSL Certificate Authority Recall Grows(Sep 07, 2011)
• Mozilla Tells SSL Certificate Authorities to Shape Up(Sep 09, 2011)
• Linux Box Admin: SSL: How to Choose a Certificate Authority(Jun 08, 2006)
• StartSSL: a Certification Authority with a heart(Nov 03, 2009)
• O'Reilly.net: Creating Your Own CA(Feb 18, 2003)