How to Run Your Own Certificate Authority

Written By
Web Webster
Web Webster
Jun 14, 2012

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.

Web Webster

Web Webster

Web Webster has more than 20 years of writing and editorial experience in the tech sector. He’s written and edited news, demand generation, user-focused, and thought leadership content for business software solutions, consumer tech, and Linux Today, he edits and writes for a portfolio of tech industry news and analysis websites including webopedia.com, and DatabaseJournal.com.

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