Backup Certificates
The instructions for exporting and importing your digital certificate are intended for certificate backup purposes only. Users should maintain control of their digital certificates at all times and it is recommended users apply strong passwords to their certificates during export. For additional information on your organization’s policies regarding certificate usage and storage, please contact your organization’s IT or Security Office
Export
To export your certificates:
1. Click on the Windows Start menu, then search for “Internet Options” and open the application.
2. Select the Content tab. Then select the Certificates sub-tab.
3. On the Certificates dialog box, select the Personal tab.
4. Highlight the Identity certificate. Click Export.
5. Select the “Yes, export the private key” option. Click Next.
6. Select the “Include all certificates in the certification path if possible” option. Click Next.
7. Apply a password to the certificate. Click Next.
NOTE: You must remember this password. It will be used during the certificate import process.
8. Browse for a location to store your certificate. Click Browse. For security reasons, it is important you maintain control of your digital certificate at all times.
9. Enter your first and last name as the file name. The Save as Type should be *.pfx. Click Save.
NOTE: In order to label this as your Identity certificate, enter last name (Identity). This enables you to identify your certificates correctly.
10. The file path is created. Click Next. Click Finish.
11. Click OK on the confirmation screen.
You successfully exported your digital certificate. If you have multiple certificates, backup each certificate by following this process.
Import
To import the certificates you previously backed-up:
1. Click on the Windows Start menu, then search for “Internet Options” and open the application.
2. Select the Content tab and click the Certificates button.
3. From the Personal tab, click Import. The Import Wizard opens, click Next.
4. Browse for the .pfx file (certificate) you saved during the export process. Click Browse.
5. Make sure you are browsing for file type .pfx and choose the certificate labeled Identity. Click Open.
6. The certificate file path populates. Click Next.
7. Enter the password you applied to the certificate during the export process.
8. Optionally, check the box to Enable Strong Key protection to be prompted for this password each time this certificate is leveraged.
9. Choose the “Automatically select…” option. Click Next. Click Finish.
10. The “Importing new private exchange key” window displays. At this point, you have the option to increase the security level of the certificate.
NOTE: If you wish to increase the security level, click Set Security Level and follow the steps provided in the Increasing Certificate Security Level section for next steps.
11. To leave your security level at Medium, click OK. Click OK on the confirmation screen.
You have now completed the certificate import process. If you need to import additional certificates, follow the process until you import all certificates.
