Microsoft CA Integration
Microsoft CA Integration enables CERTInext to connect with Microsoft Active Directory Certificate Services (AD CS) for automated certificate issuance, renewal, and revocation. By configuring an AD CS connector, organizations can leverage their existing Microsoft PKI infrastructure while centralizing lifecycle management, automation, and reporting within CERTInext.
This integration allows CERTInext to securely communicate with AD CS Web Enrollment services and orchestrate certificate workflows across servers, applications, and user environments.
Navigation
Integrations → CA Connectors → AD CS → +Create
Once created, the connector appears under the AD CS listing page and becomes available for selection during certificate provisioning and bot configuration.
Purpose
Integrating Microsoft CA enables:
Automated issuance and renewal using AD CS templates
Centralized lifecycle visibility within CERTInext
Policy-driven certificate management
Integration with provisioning bots for deployment
Consolidated audit and reporting
CERTInext acts as an orchestration layer while AD CS remains the issuing authority.
Prerequisites
Before configuring the connector, ensure:
AD CS Web Enrollment (certsrv) is enabled
The CA server is reachable from the bot or CERTInext environment
Required certificate templates are published in AD CS
A service account with enrollment permissions is available (for Enterprise CA)
Network connectivity over HTTPS is allowed
Configuring the AD CS Connector
To create a new connector:
Navigate to Integrations → CA Connectors → AD CS
Click +Create
Provide the required configuration details
Required Fields
Name
Logical name for identifying the connector (for example: Corp-ADCS-Primary).
Base URL
Web service endpoint for AD CS Web Enrollment.
Example:
https://pki.example.com/certsrv
CA Setup Type Choose the appropriate deployment type:
Standalone CA Used when AD CS operates independently without Active Directory integration.
Enterprise CA Used when AD CS is integrated with Active Directory and supports template-based enrollment.
When Enterprise CA is selected, additional authentication fields are required:
Username – Service account with enrollment rights
Password – Corresponding credentials
Click Create to save the connector.
How It Works
When a certificate request is initiated in CERTInext:
CSR is generated or reused
Request is sent to AD CS via the configured Web Enrollment endpoint
AD CS validates policy and template rules
Certificate is issued and returned
Provisioning bot deploys the certificate to the target system
All issuance and renewal activities are logged within CERTInext for audit and traceability.
Operational Notes
Only published AD CS templates are available during certificate ordering.
If the Web Enrollment endpoint is unreachable, requests remain queued.
Authentication failures typically indicate incorrect service account permissions.
Enterprise CA mode requires proper template security configuration in AD CS.
Security Best Practices
Use a dedicated least-privileged service account.
Restrict connector access using firewall rules.
Enforce HTTPS for Web Enrollment endpoints.
Enable auditing within AD CS and CERTInext.
Troubleshooting
Verify Web Enrollment access in a browser:
https://<ca-server>/certsrvConfirm template permissions allow the configured service account to enroll.
Check connector status on the AD CS listing page.
Review bot and connector logs if certificate issuance fails.
Microsoft CA Integration allows organizations to extend existing Microsoft PKI environments with automation, governance, and lifecycle visibility provided by CERTInext, without replacing their established certificate infrastructure.
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