Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011.cer ((better)) Official

Comprehensive Report on Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011.cer

5.2 Replacement Strategy

Microsoft typically introduces new roots every 5–10 years. As of 2026, the likely successors are:

Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2017 (ECC)
Microsoft RSA Root Certificate Authority 2022 (if released)

Microsoft will cross-sign new roots with the 2011 root to maintain backward compatibility during transition periods.

A. SHA-256 Support (Crypto Agility)

The primary feature of this certificate is its support for the SHA-256 hashing algorithm. The previous "Microsoft Root Certificate Authority" (circa 2001) utilized SHA-1, which is now deprecated and considered insecure. microsoft root certificate authority 2011.cer

Why it matters: Windows requires SHA-256 for modern driver signing policies (Windows 10+). This root allows Microsoft to release Kernel Mode Code Signing (KMCS) certificates that are SHA-256 compliant.

Part 9: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Is it safe to delete microsoft root certificate authority 2011.cer? A: Absolutely not. Unless you are running an isolated, non-Microsoft, non-internet connected system, deletion will cause immediate functionality loss for Windows Update, drivers, and store apps.

Q2: Can I convert this .cer to .pem or .pfx? A: You can convert .cer (public only) to .pem using OpenSSL: openssl x509 -in microsoft.cer -out microsoft.pem. You cannot convert it to .pfx because a .pfx requires a private key, which you do not have. Microsoft will cross-sign new roots with the 2011

Q3: Why do I see two versions of "Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011" in my store? A: You may have both the SHA-1 and SHA-256 thumbprint variants, or the cross-signed version from another CA (like VeriSign). Check the "Issuer" column—the legitimate one is self-issued.

Q4: Does Linux or macOS trust this root? A: Not by default. Each OS maintains its own root store. A Linux machine uses the Mozilla CA Bundle, which may or may not include Microsoft roots. However, Microsoft services on Linux (like .NET Core or PowerShell) ship with their own trust bundle. Windows OS components (Driver signing

Q5: How do I verify the fingerprint of the legitimate 2011 root? A: Check Microsoft’s official documentation or run: certutil -verify -urlfetch microsoft root certificate authority 2011.cer The known good SHA-256 thumbprint (check Microsoft’s live docs for the current one) must match.

2.2 Primary Use Cases

Windows OS components (Driver signing, Windows Update, Secure Boot)
Microsoft Office and Exchange (Document signing, S/MIME)
Azure services (Trust for Azure AD, Key Vault, App Services)
Code signing (Authenticode for .NET applications, drivers)
TLS/SSL for Microsoft-owned domains (windows.net, microsoftonline.com, etc.)
Smart card logon (Windows Hello for Business)

4. Deployment and Management

4.2 Manual Installation

Administrators can install microsoft root certificate authority 2011.cer using:

certutil -addstore Root microsoft-root-certificate-authority-2011.cer

Or via MMC (Certificates snap-in) → Trusted Root Certification Authorities → Import.