ECA Certificates Step-by-Step Overview

Initiate a request for an ECA digital certificate by completing the enrollment process. You will be asked to provide identity information online, print and complete enrollment forms, have them notarized, and mail them to VeriSign.

VeriSign, Inc.
Attn: Enterprise Authentication Team
M/S 3-2-1
487 E. Middlefield Road
Mountain View, CA 94043
eca-authentication@verisign.com

NOTE: New regulations require proof of citizenship prior to obtaining a certificate from the VeriSign ECA. At least one of the two forms of identification provided must be a government issued photo ID. To use auto-enrollment for renewals, users will need to have validated citizenship information in place.

If you are enrolling using Notary...	If you are enrolling using Trusted Agent...

Digital certificates are verified using a chain of trust. The trust anchor for the ECA digital certificate is the ECA Root Certificate Authority (CA). The next link in the trust chain is the VeriSign ECA CA. You need to install both to verify VeriSign-issued ECA certificates.

• Install CAs Using Internet Explorer
• Install CAs Using Netscape - Mozilla Firefox - Mozilla
• To exchange secure email with the DOD, Install the DOD Root CAs

Your ECA certificates are bundled as a set: one used for signing and authentication and the other for encryption. You will receive an email from VeriSign containing your PIN and a pickup URL for your ECA digital certificates. Be sure to pick up both certificates.

Go to VeriSign ECA customer support to learn how to use your ECA certificates for signing and encrypting email by configuring your email program or browser.

Backup your ECA digital certificates in case you need to move them to a new computer, replace a corrupted ID, and for safe keeping. Store the floppy disk or CD in a secure place such as a safe or lockable cabinet.

• Back Up Your ECA Certificate Using Internet Explorer
• Back Up Your ECA Certificate Using Netscape