Virtual Smart Card in Windows 10

Virtual smart cards offer businesses the same benefits as physical smart cards at a lower cost. You can create your virtual smart card in many ways. They provide an additional layer of security for online transactions and can be used in place of physical smart cards in certain situations. This article will explore how to use Virtual Smart Cards in Windows 10.

What is Virtual Smart Card?

Virtual Smart Card is Microsoft‘s Trusted Platform Module (TPM)-based solution. It is designed to protect hardware by generating encryption keys and storing part of the key information in the TPM. It provides certificates against Active Directory to authenticate devices and users.

Virtual smart cards work similarly to most traditional smart cards but are more efficient. Traditional smart cards use encryption or chips. A virtual smart card stores the key information directly in the device. It enables two-factor authentication (2FA) on the user’s device without additional hardware. Virtual smart cards can protect a company’s IT systems from external threats. These external threats include hacker attacks or unauthorized access from other external devices.

After configuring the virtual smart card, you can enter the correct PIN on the device to log in properly. It will always appear as an inserted smart card in Windows. The operating system provides the virtual smart reader and virtual smart card to the application when you need to use it. The application has the same interface as a physical smart card. So you can log in to a given system more quickly.

The virtual smart card is virtual, so it costs less to use it. You can save on the cost of purchasing additional smart card hardware.

The following types of smart cards are available for virtual smart card functionality.

• Universal ISO – 7816 smart cards
• German electronic ID cards (NPA) with EAC support (PACE, TA, CA)
• BAC-enabled ePassport (ePass/MRTD)
• Cryptoflex smart cards

How Do I Use Virtual Smart Cards in Windows 10?

The virtual smart card is available for devices equipped with TPM (version 1.2 or 2.0) that have been added to Windows 10. Also, having an accessible KPI infrastructure working environment is crucial. For example, the more common Microsoft Certificate Services.

Next, we divided the whole process into three steps:

• Create a certificate template (that meets the requirements for virtual smart card registration)
• Creating a virtual smart card (supported by TPM)
• Registering a TPM virtual smart card certificate

In addition, you will need to verify that your device has TPM installed. You can run tpm. msc to try this.

Creating a Certificate Template

The first step we need to take is to create a certificate template that matches the requirements of the virtual smart card. Let’s do the following using Microsoft Certificate Services as an example of a PKI infrastructure in a Windows domain.

• Open the Microsoft Management Console (MMC).
• Click on File and click on Add/Remove Management Units.
• Click on Certificate Templates in the list of available management units
• Click Add File.
• Double-click to view all certificate templates located in the root directory of the MMC console.
• Right-click on the smart card login template.
• Click Copy Template.

View the Certification Authority on the Compatibility tab and change it as required.

Specify the name on the General tab and set the valid value to the desired value. Specify a name for the TPM Virtual Smart Card Logon.

On the Request tab, set Usage to Signature and smartcard logon. Then click Prompt user on registration.

On the Cryptography tab, set the Minimum key size to 2048. select Requests must use one of the following providers. Select Microsoft Base Smart Card Crypto Provider.

Add the security group to which you want to grant registration access. This selection is visible on the Security tab.

Click Confirm to complete the changes to create a new template. At this time, your new template will appear in the list of certificate templates.

Select File and click Add/Remove Snap-in. to add the Certification Authority management unit to your MMC console. Then select the computer the system asks to manage as the computer where the CA is located.

Next, expand Certification Authority (Local) in the left pane of the MMC. You can then expand your CA in the Certification Authority list.

Right-click on the certificate template. Then click on New and click on the certificate template you want to issue.

Then, you will need to select the new template you just created from the list and click Confirm.

Stop and start the certificate service on the CA before proceeding. It is done by going back to the MMC after the template has been copied successfully. Right-click on the list of Certificate Scheme Authorities. Select All Tasks and click Stop Services. Right-click on the CA’s name again. Click All Tasks and then click Start Service.

You can grant access to all users when you add a security group. You need to click to select the authenticated user groups. Then just register permissions for them. You must know that your newly created template may take some time to replicate on all your servers. You can use it in this list only after successfully replicated.

Creating a TPM Virtual Smart Card

In this step, you will use the command-line tool Tpmvscmgr.exe. It ensures that you can successfully create virtual smart cards on client computers. It is done as follows:

• Open the command prompt and switch on the joined computer using the administrative credentials.
• Type and run this command at the command prompt:

tpmvscmgr.exe create /name TestVSC /pin default /admin key random /generate

It will then create a virtual smart card. This virtual smart card will allow you to omit the unlock key and generate the file system on the card.

Wait a few seconds for the process to complete. tpmvscmgr.exe will provide you with the device instance ID of the TPM virtual smart card when it is done. This ID will help you manage or delete all your virtual smart cards.

Note that you must set the PIN default when running the above command. You need to type /pin default instead of /pin default when prompted to enter the PIN.

Registering the TPM Virtual Smart Card Certificate

After doing this, you will also need to equip it with the login credentials needed to complete the process. It will only be fully functional if you have the appropriate login credentials.

• Type certmgr.MSC in the Start menu on the Windows 10 client. This command will help you to open the Certificate Console quickly.
• Then right-click on the certificate manager for your storage. Right-click on the individual, select All Tasks and choose to Apply for New Certificate.

This step will help you start the Certificate Enrollment Wizard. Then, we click “Next“

Then click Next. Continue to click Next on the Select Certificate Enrollment Policy display screen.

Select the name of the certificate template you created in the previous step. Then click Enroll.

Next, enter the PIN password you created when creating the TPM virtual smart card and click OK.

Wait for the previous registration to complete, and then click Finish.

The prompt to enter the device appears in the Register TPM Virtual Smart Card certificate session above. Then, you must select the corresponding Microsoft Virtual Smart Card you used in the previous steps. It is usually shown as the identity device, i.e., the Microsoft profile.

Once all the above processes are finished, the installation of the virtual smart card windows 10 is complete. Your computer has a new option to log in as a secure device.

Suppose you want to verify that your virtual smart card is equipped and that the certificate registration was successful. You can log out of the current session and log in again. You can see a new TPM Virtual Smart Card icon on the desktop login screen. You will be redirected to the TPM Smart Card login dialog if the previous action fails.

Click on this new smart card icon displayed on the login screen. Then enter your PIN password. Click OK again, and you will quickly log into your domain account.

Using Virtual Smart Cards with Remote Desktop

You can use virtual smart cards with Remote Desktop to provide an additional layer of security when accessing remote computers. To use a virtual smart card with Remote Desktop, you will need a smart card reader and a virtual smart card with a digital certificate installed. Follow these steps to use a virtual smart card with Remote Desktop:

1. Open the Remote Desktop Connection on your computer.
2. Click the “Options” button.
3. Click the “Local Resources” tab.
4. Click the “More” button.
5. Click the “Smart Card” checkbox.
6. Click the “OK” button.
7. Enter the remote computer’s information and click the “Connect” button.
8. Insert your smart card reader and use the Virtual Smart Card to authenticate yourself when prompted.

Using Virtual Smart Cards with Microsoft Passport

Microsoft Passport is a feature in Windows 10 that allows you to use a Virtual Smart Card or a biometric authentication method (such as fingerprint or facial recognition) to log in to your computer or access certain resources. To use a Virtual Smart Card with Microsoft Passport, you will need a smart card reader and a Virtual Smart Card with a digital certificate installed. Follow these steps to use a Virtual Smart Card with Microsoft Passport:

1. Open the Settings app on your computer.
2. Click the “Accounts” tab.
3. Click the “Sign-in options” tab.
4. Click the “Windows Hello PIN” tab.
5. Click the “Set up” button.
6. Follow the prompts to set up Microsoft Passport. This may include creating a PIN and setting up a recovery key.
7. Insert your smart card reader and use the Virtual Smart Card to authenticate yourself when prompted.

Using Virtual Smart Cards with Other Applications

In addition to the above uses, you can use Virtual Smart Cards with other applications supporting smart card authentication. Check the documentation for the application in question to see if it supports smart card authentication and follow the instructions to use a Virtual Smart Card with the application.

Where can I Use My Virtual Smart Card?

The virtual smart card is used in some places where it is important. You can use it to authenticate users to external resources. You can also use it to protect data through secure encryption. Many businesses also use it to provide reliable signatures for their integrity. You can easily deploy virtual smart card authentication in-house or by purchasing a solution. It is an extremely strong authentication method and is suitable for any size of business. The following are three common virtual smart card applications in life.

Authentication-based Use Cases

• Remote Access Via Two-factor Authentication
• Client-side Authentication
• Virtual Smart Card Redirection for Remote Desktop Connection
• Virtual Smart Cards with Windows To Go

Confidentiality Use Cases

• S/MIME email encryption
• BitLocker for Data Volumes

Data Integrity Use Case

• Signed Data

A virtual smart card is arguably a stronger version of a physical smart card. It makes authentication much easier. It is also well-suited to our various authentication needs. Examples include wireless networks, desktop logins, and VPN services.

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More About Virtual Smart Card FAQs

1. What is a virtual smart card, and how does it differ from a physical smart card?

   A virtual smart card is a software-based implementation of a smart card. This can be used for secure authentication and access control. Unlike a physical smart card, which is a physical device with a chip embedded in it, a virtual smart card uses the cryptographic capabilities of the host device (such as a computer or a mobile phone) to provide the same level of security.

2. What are the benefits of using virtual smart cards instead of physical smart cards?

   Virtual smart cards have several advantages over physical smart cards, such as being easier to manage, deploy, and update. This is because they do not require physical distribution. Virtual smart cards are also more cost-effective, as they do not require purchasing and maintaining physical devices.

3. What security measures are in place to protect virtual smart cards from unauthorized access or theft?

   Virtual smart cards use various security measures to protect against unauthorized access or theft, such as a PIN or password protection, encryption of sensitive data, and access control policies. Additionally, virtual smart cards are designed to be tamper-resistant, so any attempts to modify or access them without proper authorization will trigger alerts or disable the card.

4. How do virtual smart cards work with different operating systems and applications?

   Virtual smart cards are compatible with various operating systems and applications. This is because they use standardized interfaces and protocols for communication. These interfaces and protocols allow virtual smart cards to work seamlessly with different applications that support smart card authentication.

5. Can virtual smart cards be used for secure remote authentication, and if so, how?

   Yes, virtual smart cards can be used for secure remote authentication. Virtual smart cards can authenticate users remotely using cryptographic protocols such as TLS, VPN, or Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP).

6. What are some common use cases for virtual smart cards, and how are they deployed in different industries?

   Virtual smart cards are used in various industries and applications, such as government agencies, financial institutions, healthcare, and e-commerce. They are used for secure access control, data protection, and identity verification.

7. How do virtual smart cards fit into the broader digital identity and authentication technologies landscape?

   Virtual smart cards are a part of the broader landscape of digital identity and authentication technologies. This includes biometric authentication, multi-factor authentication, and digital certificates. Virtual smart cards provide an additional layer of security and flexibility to these technologies, as they can be used across different devices and applications.

8. What is the process for provisioning and managing virtual smart cards, and who is responsible?

   The process for provisioning and managing virtual smart cards can vary depending on the specific implementation and the industry in which they are used. Typically, the IT department or a designated security team is responsible for provisioning and managing virtual smart cards.