Advanced Insights needs a valid SSL certificate to install and function. (the installer will verify the certificate is valid).
Supported Certificate types:
Server host (FQDN) standard certificate.
Wildcard certificate.
Custom CNAME / Alias certificate.
Self-signed certificate.
The certificate must meet the following minimum requirements:
Support HTTPS / SSL.
Has private key.
Valid in-date (not expired).
Enhanced key usage includes "Server Authentication".
Only modern signature types are supported (e.g. SHA256). Legacy / weak signature algorithms, for example; 'SHA1', 'MD2', 'MD4', 'MD5 are not supported.
Subject Alternative Name (SAN). The certificate SAN requirements depend on the chosen deployment configuration for the Advanced Insights URL.
Scenario 1 - Server Host name certificate.
For Advanced Insights URL deployment using server host name (e.g. https://server01.contoso.local) the certificate SAN must contain an entry which matches the FQDN of the host server where Advanced Insights is installed.
Scenario 2 - Wildcard certificate.
For Advanced Insights URL deployment using a wildcard certificate, an entry must be included in the certificate SAN that represents the wildcard certificate. e.g. ' *contoso.local'.
Scenario 3 - CNAME / Alias certificate.
For Advanced Insights URL deployment using a CNAME / Alias, (e.g. https://AdvancedInsights.contoso.local) the certificate SAN must contain an entry which represents the CNAME / Alias. e.g. 'AdvancedInsights.contoso.local'.
When using a CNAME / Alias or Wilcard certificate for custom Advanced Insights deployment URL, ensure that DNS has been updated to include an entry which represents the chosen CNAME / Alias.
Example:
Certificate SAN values can be also verified within the certificate properties.
Examples:
On the Windows Server OS which will host Advanced Insights, the following PowerShell script can be executed to list supported certificates.
# Advanced Insights valid certificate check.
Param()
$CertsToExclude = @("ConfigMgr SQL Server Identification Certificate","WMSVC-SHA2")
# Get the FQDN of the machine
$machineFQDN = [System.Net.Dns]::GetHostEntry($env:COMPUTERNAME).HostName
# Certificate filtering
# Algorithms to exclude
$Weakhash = @('SHA1', 'SHA1RSA', 'MD2', 'MD4', 'MD5')
$certs = Get-ChildItem -Path Cert:\LocalMachine\My |
Where-Object {
($_.SignatureAlgorithm.FriendlyName -notin $Weakhash) -and
($_.EnhancedKeyUsageList | Where-Object { $_.ObjectId -eq "1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1"} ) -and
($_.NotAfter -gt (Get-Date)) -and
($_.HasPrivateKey -eq $true) -and
($_.FriendlyName -notin $CertsToExclude) -and
(
($_.Extensions | Where-Object { $_.Oid.Value -eq "2.5.29.17" }) -and
($sanExtension = $_.Extensions | Where-Object { $_.Oid.Value -eq "2.5.29.17" }) -and
($sanNames = $sanExtension.Format(0) -split ', ' | ForEach-Object { $_.Split('=')[1].Trim() })
) -and
(Test-Certificate -Cert $_ -Policy SSL)
} -ErrorAction SilentlyContinue
#$certs.Extensions
Write-Host "############### The following certificates are suitable for Advanced Insights: ###############"`n
foreach ($cert in $certs) {
$SelfSigned = $false
if ($cert.Issuer -eq $cert.Subject) {
$SelfSigned = $true
}
$sanExtension = $cert.Extensions | Where-Object { $_.Oid.Value -eq "2.5.29.17" }
$sanNames = $sanExtension.Format(0) -split ', ' | ForEach-Object { $_.Split('=')[1].Trim() }
Write-Host "Certificate Friendly Name: $($cert.FriendlyName)
Certificate Thumbprint: $($cert.Thumbprint)
Enhanced Key Usage: $($cert.EnhancedKeyUsageList)
Certitifcate validity: $($cert.NotAfter)
Private Key present: $($cert.HasPrivateKey)
Subject Alternative Name (SAN): $($sanNames)
Signature Algorithm: $($cert.SignatureAlgorithm.FriendlyName)
Self signed Certificate: $($SelfSigned)" `n
}
# List certificates not captured in $certs
$allCerts = Get-ChildItem -Path Cert:\LocalMachine\My
$uncapturedCerts = $allCerts | Where-Object { $_ -notin $certs }
# Output the uncaptured certificates and their unmatched properties
if ($uncapturedCerts.Count -gt 0) {
Write-Host "############### The following certificate properties are checked: ###############`n
1. Enhanced Key Usage
2. Certitifcate validity
3. Private Key present
4. Certificate in exclude list
5. Subject Alternative Name (SAN)
6. 'Test-Certificate -Policy SSL' cmdlet is used to check certificate is valid for SSL and root cert can be validated
7. Signature Algorithm = sha256RSA (Minimum)" `n
Write-Host "############### The following certificates have one or more property values which are not suitable for Advanced Insights: ###############"`n -ForegroundColor Yellow
foreach ($cert in $uncapturedCerts) {
Write-Host "Certificate Friendly Name: $($cert.FriendlyName)
Certificate Thumbprint: $($cert.Thumbprint)"
Write-Host "Unsuitable Certificate Properties:"
# Check Key Usage details
$SANObjID = $cert.EnhancedKeyUsageList | Where-Object { $_.ObjectId -eq '1.3.6.1.5.5.7.3.1'}
if (!$SANObjID) {
Write-Host "1. Enhanced Key Usage (requires 'Server Authentication') value found: $($cert.EnhancedKeyUsageList)"
}
if ($cert.NotAfter -le (Get-Date)) {
Write-Host "2. A valid, in date certificate is required: Expiration Date found: $($cert.NotAfter)"
}
if ($cert.HasPrivateKey -ne $true) {
Write-Host "3. Private Key present?: Not Found"
}
if ($cert.FriendlyName -in $CertsToExclude) {
Write-Host "4. Certificate in exclude list: Friendly Name: $($cert.FriendlyName)"
}
# Check SAN extension
$sanExtension = $cert.Extensions | Where-Object { $_.Oid.Value -eq "2.5.29.17" }
if (!$sanExtension) {
Write-Host "5. Subject Alternative Name (SAN) requires at least one entry matches the server FQDN or is a wildcard which matches the server domain name e.g. '*.internaldomain.local. SAN value(s):: Not Found"
} else
{
$sanNames = $sanExtension.Format(0) -split ', ' | ForEach-Object { $_.Split('=')[1].Trim() }
if ([string]::IsNullOrEmpty($sanNames)) {
Write-Host "5 Subject Alternative Name (SAN) requires at least one entry matches the server FQDN or is a wildcard which matches the server domain name e.g. '*.internaldomain.local. SAN value(s): $($sanNames -join ', ')"
}
}
if (!(Test-Certificate -Cert $cert -Policy SSL)) {
Write-Host "6. Test-Certificate SSL Policy: Failed"
}
if ($cert.SignatureAlgorithm.FriendlyName -in $Weakhash) {
Write-Host "7. Certificate signature algorithm requires a minimum of SHA256 RSA. Legacy / weak algorithms e.g. 'SHA1', 'MD2', 'MD4', 'MD5 are not supported. Signature Algorithm found: $($cert.SignatureAlgorithm.FriendlyName)"`n
}
Write-Host
} Write-Host "############### Certificate Check End ###############"
} else {
Write-Host "No uncaptured certificates found."
}
Example PowerShell outputs:
Self-signed certificate use.
When deploying Advanced Insights using a self-signed certificate, the installer will automatically create the certificate using the server host name value to create the Advanced Insights URL.
We don't recommend using a self-signed certificate long-term in production as it won't be trusted by other client browsers by default.
You can replace a self-signed certificate or modify the certificate in use using the Add/Remove Programs "Change" option as detailed .
