Windows PKI Migration & Upgrade

Unsupported Infrastructure Threatening Security

Operating on Windows Server 2008, which had reached end-of-support status, the city's PKI was exposed to unpatched vulnerabilities and lacked vendor support. This situation posed significant security risks and hindered compliance with modern security standards.

Zero Documentation Complicating Operations

The absence of any documentation made it challenging to understand the existing PKI's architecture, certificate hierarchies, and configurations. This knowledge gap increased operational hurdles and the risk of information loss due to personnel changes.

Minimizing Downtime in a Critical Environment

With services relying on constant availability, any PKI downtime could disrupt authentication processes across Active Directory, affecting both users and critical city services. The complexity of dependencies required meticulous planning to prevent service interruptions during the migration.

Inefficient Certificate Management

Outdated root and intermediate certificates cluttered the system, causing potential trust issues and security vulnerabilities. Manual processes for certificate issuance and renewal led to inefficiencies and increased the likelihood of human error.

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In-Depth Assessment and Discovery

Despite the lack of documentation, BitSummit conducted a comprehensive audit of the existing PKI setup. By analyzing Certificate Authorities (CAs), certificate templates, issuance policies, and trust relationships, they mapped out all dependencies, ensuring a clear path forward.

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Innovative PKI Design Leveraging Windows Server 2022

BitSummit crafted a new PKI architecture featuring:

• Robust Two-Tier Hierarchy: Establishing an offline Root CA and an online Enterprise Subordinate CA to enhance security and manageability.
• Advanced Cryptography: Implementing stronger algorithms like SHA-256 and RSA 2048-bit keys to meet and exceed current security standards.

Downtime Minimization Strategy

A meticulous migration plan focused on an efficient transition of PKI services, minimizing downtime to negligible levels without compromising service availability.

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Backup and Restoration of PKI Configuration

• Secure Backup: Utilized built-in tools to back up the entire PKI database, including CA certificates, private keys, and configuration settings.
• Efficient Restoration: Imported the backup onto new Windows Server 2022 CA servers, effectively migrating the PKI hierarchy without data loss.

Re-establishing Critical Dependencies

• Service Realignment: Updated applications and services to interface with the new CA servers, ensuring seamless authentication and encryption.
• Certificate Rebinding: Re-bound certificates to essential services like IIS websites, VPN gateways, and wireless authentication servers.

Automating Certificate Management

• Re-generation of Essential Certificates: Deployed new certificates for domain controllers, web servers, and network devices.
• Auto-Enrollment Policies: Configured via Group Policy to streamline certificate distribution and reduce manual workload.

Eliminating Obsolete Certificates

• Custom PowerShell Script: Developed to remove outdated certificates from all domain-joined machines.
• SCCM Deployment: Leveraged SCCM for efficient, network-wide script execution, ensuring a clean and trustworthy certificate store.

Comprehensive Knowledge Transfer

• Detailed Documentation: Created extensive guides covering the new PKI architecture, configurations, operational procedures, and disaster recovery plans.
• Staff Training Sessions: Equipped the city's IT personnel with the skills to manage the PKI system effectively, ensuring long-term sustainability.

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Fortified Cybersecurity

• Risk Mitigation: Upgrading to Windows Server 2022 eliminated vulnerabilities associated with unsupported software.
• Improved Data Protection: Stronger encryption algorithms enhanced data security and compliance with regulations.
• Trustworthy Network Environment: Removal of obsolete certificates reduced attack surfaces and prevented trust issues.

Operational Excellence

• Uninterrupted Services: Achieved minimal downtime during migration, with no significant impact on city operations.
• Efficiency Gains: Automation reduced administrative overhead by approximately 40%, freeing up IT resources.
• Faster Issue Resolution: Standardized configurations and documentation cut down troubleshooting time by 30%.

Compliance and Future Readiness

• Regulatory Alignment: The new PKI met stringent security compliance standards, ensuring the city's adherence to legal requirements.
• Vendor Support Access: Restored access to updates and technical resources, keeping the infrastructure secure and current.
• Scalable Infrastructure: Positioned the city to adopt emerging technologies and advanced security measures seamlessly.

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