Your Guide To PKI Migration

Public key infrastructure is a solution used to secure and authenticate traffic between web browsers and web servers. It is used all over the Internet in the form of SSL/TLS. When a client communicates with a server, they get a hold of the certificate and validate it to ensure its authenticity. Then, it encrypts the data being transferred to the server. Digital certificates, which are issued by a certificate authority (CA), let you know the person or device you want to communicate with is actually who they claim to be i.e., they validate their identity. 

PKI Migration is the process of moving a PKI system from one environment to a new or an existing infrastructure. This could be a transition from an outdated/legacy infrastructure to a newer one, an on-prem solution to a cloud-based PKI infrastructure, or simply a vendor migration. PKI migration is complex due to the number of stakeholders being involved in the overall process.

Thus, it becomes really important to plan out each and every phase so that all the applications and services dependent on the infrastructure function without any interruption and data is kept secure throughout the migration process. 

A certification authority is trusting anchor in any PKI infrastructure. Migrating it could break the chain of trust if not done properly resulting in outages and authentication issues. Thus, while migrating it becomes important to maintain the integrity of the CA hierarchy.

High Level Overview of PKI Migration 

Key Components/ Stakeholders of PKI 

I. Certificate Authority (CA): It issues a digital certificate for applications/entities and acts as a trusting component in PKI infrastructure. Any certificate published by a CA is trusted by all the entities that trust the CA.  

CA has four major tasks in a PKI infrastructure: 

• Issue digital certificates  
• Maintain certificate revocation lists (CRLs)  
• Establish and maintain trust between the entities communicating over the internet 
• Verify the entities to validate digital identity  

II. Registration authority (RA): It is responsible for receiving certificate signing requests (CSRs) from the applications, servers or end users. It acts as an intermediatory as it verifies and approves a request before forwarding it to a certification authority. It is usually kept separate from the CA due to security and accessibility reasons. At this intermediatory stage organizations usually introduce their business logic to accept certificate requests based on origin or type of users. 

III. Digital Certificate:  A certificate is a digital document that is signed by a CA to prove the authenticity of device, user or a server. It contains several attributes like digital signature, public key, client authentication, etc. It also contains subject name which is the key attribute required for identifying the owner as it holds the value of Fully Qualified Domain Name (FQDN) or IP address of the server. 

IV. Hardware Security Module (HSM): A chain of trust is only as strong as its weakest link. For a PKI, trust and security relies on how it stores sensitive information. This is where HSMs come into the picture as HSM provides the highest form of key protection. It is a trusted network computer where all the cryptographic processes required by PKI are securely performed and managed. Thus, HSMs are essential for all the applications and services that are critical to a company’s infrastructure. 

V. Directory Services (DS): They are central repositories that store & provide access to the information about users, applications, services, servers and other resources in a network. They play a very important role in identity management and access control within the infrastructure. Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) is one of the server roles introduced in Windows Server 2008 that provides users with customizable services for creating and managing Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) certificates, which can be used for encrypting and digitally signing electronic documents, emails, and messages. 

What Does PKI Migration Involve? 

The migration process would be dependent on one key aspect i.e., whether a CLM solution is in place or not. This is because in steps like inventory transfer, vendor migration, a CLM solution would make the overall process a lot easier as it would have an accurate and complete inventory i.e., updated regularly in a centralized location.

Otherwise without a CLM solution like Certsecure Manager, there will be a need to create an overall plan from contacting all the stakeholders, creating an inventory base to transferring all of this to a new infrastructure without causing any disruption or outage. This is a very long, costly and might produce complications down the line.

Now talking of the migration, the process would have four major phases: 

1. Creating an inventory base. 
2. Transferring certificates, CAs and key materials to the new infrastructure. 
3. Reconfiguring all the services and applications dependent on the PKI. 
4. Testing and monitoring the overall PKI setup and its related services. 

Elements to consider in PKI Migration 

When planning a PKI migration, it’s important to keep in mind several elements to ensure a smooth and secure transition. Let’s go into more detail on these aspects: 

1. Current Inventory

Before going ahead with the migration process it’s very important to have a comprehensive understanding of the current PKI environment. This includes identifying all certificates & their usage in the infrastructure. 

I. Root Certificates: These serve as your PKI’s fundamental trust anchors. If the root certificate expires or is revoked during process of migration, it could disrupt the trust chain, leading to outage and downtime.

II. Intermediate Certificates: These certificates sit between the Root Certificate and the End-Entity Certificates. They are used to delegate trust between your root certificates and end entity like user/ application certificates. 

III. End-Entity Certificates: These are issued to end entity i.e., users, applications, software, or devices (like servers, VPNs) that rely on them for authentication and encryption. If these certificates expire or are revoked during the process of migration it would result in application/services outages. 

IV. Dependent Systems and Applications: PKI often extends beyond just certificates to include numerous applications and systems that depend on them. NDES (Network Device Enrolment Service) and Intune can be critical components in a PKI migration, especially if you’re managing device certificates, mobile device management (MDM), or deploying certificates to endpoints. It becomes important to identify these dependencies because migrating could involve updating configurations across web servers, databases, applications, etc. 

Thus, without a complete inventory and list of dependent devices/ services, the overall migration process is at risk as there is a high chance of missing certificates which can lead to outages. Inventory and list of these devices would also help us as a checklist in post migration testing/monitoring stage.

2. Compatibility and Standards 

Another key aspect to consider while migrating is to make sure the new PKI environment is compatible with existing applications, hardware, services, etc. It comes down to ensuring the new PKI setup integrates smoothly with legacy systems and any modern hardware or software that we have currently up and running. Some legacy applications may not support new PKI standards like ECC or some key lengths which could lead to potential outages. Thus, it becomes essential to check compatibility with all the applications/dependencies. 

If your migration fails to keep an account for compatibility issues, it may result in systems, application or services that fail to function or new certificates that aren’t trusted anymore by some applications. 

3. Automation and Scalability 

In a modern PKI infrastructure, managing hundreds & thousands of certificates manually is not considered feasible. Thus, while migrating it considered to have some automation in place that would help not only in migration but also in the certificate management in future. 

Certificate Lifecycle Management Solution: A CLM solution automates the processes like certificate issuance, renewal, and revocation thus decreasing the risk of human error & increasing efficiency. These solutions provide a single pane of glass for overall certificate management making it easier to manage millions of certificates in an organization. Moreover, they can integrate with existing workflows and systems to ensure compliance and automate certificate management tasks. 

Automate Certificate Renewal Workflows: This could help in avoiding outages due to expiring certificates. As, without proper automation missing an expiry alert or a renewal update is very possible. Thus, following are the key components that should be in place: 

• Proactive Alerts: Automated alerts and notifications can be configured to let the application owners know that the expiry date of the certificates they own is just around the corner. 
• Renewal Triggers: Automated renewal workflows can be triggered depending on the need of the team or certificate owners when expiration approaches. 
• API Integration: Many CLM solutions, provide APIs that would integrate the renewal process with your application. This ensures certificates are updated in all dependent systems without downtime. 

Preparing for PKI Migration

While preparing for PKI migration there needs to be a specific guideline with clear goals on which aspects would each team focus on. Now, following is the roadmap that should be kept in mind when preparing for PKI migration. This assessment will give you a comprehensive understanding of your existing environment and help identify all the gaps or issues that could affect the migration process. 

• Inventory of Certificates and CAs

  As discussed, perform a thorough inventory scan beforehand to list all issued certificates including Root Certificates, Intermediate Certificates, and End-Entity Certificates. Identify their locations, owners, and expiry dates.

• Policy Documentation

  List out all the policies governing your PKI, including certificate issuance policies, revocation policies, and certificate renewal schedules. Understanding the configuration and policy standards currently set in place will help us replicate and enforce these policies in the new PKI infrastructure.

• Trust Relationships and Dependencies

  Identify all the systems, applications, and services that rely on your current PKI for authentication, encryption, or secure communication.

• Risk Analysis

  The process of PKI migration comes with inherent risks that need to be assessed & mitigated.

• Identify Potential Risks

  During migration, there may be periods where services, applications that rely on certificates are temporarily down. Some compatibility issues, like legacy systems or applications might not support newer cryptographic standards or certificate formats.

• Impact Assessment

  Evaluate the impact of potential failures on business operations and ensure in phase rollouts to mitigate it.

• Rollback Planning

  This is one of the most critical aspects of PKI migration, having a rollback plan in place. If the migration process encounters severe issues, it should be possible to revert to the old PKI infrastructure quickly and safely. The rollback process should include steps for restoring old certificates, configurations, and ensuring continuity of service while the migration issues are resolved.

• Backup and Redundancy

  A backup plan is very important to be in place for protecting the PKI infrastructure before, after and during migration process. To avoid single points of failure, establish redundancy in your PKI infrastructure.

Understanding the PKI Migration Strategies 

When creating a PKI migration plan, selecting the right strategy is critical for minimizing outages and downtime while addressing the flaws in the existing system. The correct migration strategy depends on factors like the age/version of the current PKI infrastructure, business requirements and resource availability. Below are some PKI migration strategies:  

1. Lift-and-Shift

This is the one of the simplest approaches where the existing PKI is moved to a new environment with minimal changes. It involves replicating the current PKI infrastructure exactly as it is but in a new location (e.g., a new data centre, cloud platform, or updated server). Thus, it requires a well-defined and detailed set of policies and guidelines that used to be in place in the previous infrastructure. 

When to Use: 

This strategy works well when the current PKI is relatively modern, up to date, stable, and fit-for-purpose but needs to be relocated to a new infrastructure (moving the PKI infrastructure to the cloud). This strategy won’t work when migrating legacy infrastructure to a latest one. 

Benefits:  

• Minimal disruption to ongoing operations.  
• Fastest method with the least complications.  

2. Rehosting Strategy

Rehosting goes beyond a simple lift-and-shift by relocating the PKI to a new environment and implementing changes to improve its infrastructure. This could involve moving to a cloud-based solution, upgrading server hardware, or enhancing security measures. 

When to Use:

This strategy comes in handy when the current PKI still functions well, but it requires certain improvements, such as scalability, security, or performance. Organizations looking to take advantage of modern infrastructure like cloud-based security while keeping their existing inventory can use this approach. 

Benefits:

• Increases the scalability, security, or performance in overall infrastructure   
• Minimal changes to the PKI policies and structure, reducing complexity. 

3. Infrastructure Upgrade Strategy 

This method contains replacing the current PKI infrastructure (legacy in most cases) or solution with a new, modern system while retaining the existing cryptographic objects, such as keys and certificates. It’s used when the technology is outdated but the core inventory still valid and usable. 

When to Use:

Best for organizations needing new features or technology but not wanting to disrupt their current inventory. Primarily employed when switching to a more contemporary and compliant platform from an antiquated or legacy infrastructure.  

Advantages:

• A more involved process than a straightforward transfer because compatibility testing between legacy and contemporary infrastructure is needed. 

4. System Redesign Strategy 

With this approach, the PKI will be completely redesigned, starting with the generation of new cryptographic keys and ending with the transition to a new CA (Certification Authority) hierarchy. Every endpoint receives a fresh trust anchor along with all new keys and certificates.  

When to Use:

Ideal for companies whose PKI infrastructure is corrupted, old, or no longer compliant with modern standards. When the current PKI is out of compliance with the forthcoming requirements, a complete redesign is frequently considered.  

Advantages:

• Total autonomy to restructure the PKI in accordance with industry standards and best practices.
• Taking into account: The most intricate, costly, and time-consuming method. It needs to be implemented and planned out well. 

Common Pitfalls in PKI Migration

When migrating a PKI infrastructure, there are many challenges & potential pitfalls that, if not correctly addressed, can result in serious problems like compatibility problems, downtime, and security breaches. The following are some typical complexities to be aware of:  

1. Complexity of PKI Migration

PKI migrations are inherently complex because they involve sensitive security infrastructure and affect all the services and systems that rely on them. A failure to recognize the full scope of the migration can lead to serious outages. 

Challenges:  

• Lack of Comprehensive Planning: Many organizations fail to create a detailed plan for the migration, which includes not only moving certificates but also considering key management systems, applications, and network devices that depend on the PKI.  
• Overlooking Dependencies: Overlooked dependencies, such as integration with directory services, VPNs, internal applications, NDES, etc can lead to unforeseen downtime or functionality problems. 

2. Data Loss and Unplanned Downtime

Migrating PKI without proper precautions can lead to data loss or downtime, especially in cases where teams don’t back up their current infrastructure before starting the migration. 

Challenges:

• Backup Failures: If something goes wrong during the migration process, data loss may occur from improperly backing up and creating redundancies of certificates, keys, and logs.  
• Downtime: If the migration procedure is not adequately tested or planned, unexpected downtime may happen. Operations at businesses may be disrupted as a result of this. 
• Compatibility Issues: PKI relies on integration with various applications, servers, and hardware security modules (HSMs). Compatibility issues arise when the new PKI environment is not fully compatible with existing systems or applications.

3. Security Vulnerabilities During and After Migration

Misconfigurations, forgotten configurations, or transient vulnerabilities can all result in the creation of security gaps during PKI migration, which is a frequent source of trouble. 

Challenges:  

• Misconfigurations: If something goes wrong during the migration process, data loss may occur due to improper backups of certificates, keys, and logs. 
• Expired Certificates: Migrating a PKI without renewing expired certificates or managing key rollovers can weaken the security posture. 

4. Data Integrity and Chain of Trust

Maintaining the integrity of your data and preserving the chain of trust is critical when migrating PKI infrastructure. Any break in the trust chain can invalidate certificates, leaving your infrastructure vulnerability. 

Challenges: 

• Corrupted Data: Improper handling of data namely certificates, keys, or CRLs could lead to data corruption leading to broken services and outages. 
• Break in Chain of Trust: During migration, any disruption in chain of trust could invalidate the digital certificates and lead to vulnerability in infrastructure.

Best Practices for PKI Migration 

1. Auditing & Planning: Conduct a full audit of your existing PKI infrastructure, list out all the dependencies, and develop a detailed migration plan. 

2. Phase by Phase Migration: Perform the migration in phases to reduce risk and allow time to address issues. 

3. Testing: Use test environments to simulate the migration and identify potential problems. 

4. Backup and Recovery: Regularly back up certificates, keys, and configurations, and have a recovery plan in place in case of failure in migration. 

How Can Encryption Consulting Help? 

As PKI migrations are complex, involving multiple phases of planning, certificate issuance & revocation. At Encryption Consulting, we specialize in designing and migrating PKI infrastructures that align perfectly with your organization’s unique security needs.

Our full range of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) services help you in migrating PKI can seem daunting with the increase in the number of cyber threats and complications associated with it. But you can rest assured because our experienced staff will help you migrate and monitor your PKI. With Encryption Consulting’s PKIaaS, you can focus on your core business while we handle the complexities of PKI management. 

Encryption Consulting ‘s Certificate Lifecycle management solution called CertSecure Manager ensures that every aspect of the migration is handled from inventory migration to automation workflows.  

• End-to-End Automation:  CertSecure automates the issuance, renewal, and revocation of certificates, ensuring that no certificate expires during the migration. This helps prevent service outages or security gaps caused by expired certificates.  
• Bulk Certificate Management: Migrating PKI often involves issuance of new certificates in large quantities. CertSecure allows bulk certificate issuance, increasing efficiency while reducing human errors during the migration process. 
• Role-Based Access Control (RBAC): Built in RBAC feature allows organizations to create access control within the infrastructure and have segregation in place with respect to inventory and CAs. 

Conclusion 

PKI migration is a complex yet essential process for organizations looking to migrate their PKI infrastructure, modernize their certificate management, or address vulnerabilities in their current PKI environment. Whether you’re utilizing a straightforward “lift-and-shift”, or a more complex “complete shift” strategy, detailed audit, planning, implementation, and expert support are critical for a successful migration. 

A successful PKI migration not only addresses current infrastructure vulnerabilities but also resolves the existing compliance issues, thus, aligning with latest standards, and maintaining compliance. Thus, a strategic approach to PKI migration will enhance an organization’s overall security posture and ensure a smooth transition to a more secure and modern infrastructure.