Becoming a Certificate Authority (CA) is a complex process that involves meeting specific requirements and adhering to industry standards. Here's a guide on how to become a CA:

1. Understand the Role of a CA: A CA is responsible for verifying and issuing digital certificates that ensure secure communication over the internet. They play a crucial role in maintaining the trust and security of online transactions .
2. Meet Technical Requirements: Your root and intermediate certificates must be included in the trust stores of different platforms like Microsoft, Apple, the Chromium Project (Google Chrome), and Mozilla to gain public trust .
3. Adhere to Industry Standards: Compliance with industry standards such as the CA/Browser Forum Baseline Requirements is mandatory. These standards outline the rules for SSL/TLS management, code signing, and network security .
4. Undergo Extensive Audits: Compliance with programs like WebTrust Principles and Criteria and CA/B Forum Baseline Requirements requires thorough audits. Auditors assess CAs based on financial, security, and business principles .
5. Significant Investment: Establishing a public CA involves substantial resources for secure storage devices and IT infrastructure. Additionally, there are costs associated with hiring security experts, training programs, and ongoing compliance reviews .
6. Distribution Efforts: Distributing your root certificate to all relevant devices and platforms can take years unless you opt for cross-signing with existing CAs, which is becoming increasingly uncommon .
7. Legal Basis and Regulation: In China, CA operations are regulated by laws such as the "Electronic Signature Law" and the "Cybersecurity Law." CAs must obtain a "Electronic Certification Service License" from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and comply with relevant laws and regulations to ensure the security and credibility of digital certificates .
8. Application Process: For becoming a new CA, you must fill out an application form and send it to the relevant email address, such as [msroot@microsoft.com] for Microsoft's Trusted Root Certificate Program. Microsoft will review your application and may request additional documentation to determine if you meet the program requirements .
9. Create Your Own Private CA: For most organizations, setting up a private CA is more feasible. This involves distributing the root CA only within your internal network, allowing you to customize certificate profiles and policies according to your unique security needs .
10. Infrastructure and Key Management: Establish a robust IT infrastructure to support your private CA server. Generate root CA keys and certificates, and ensure the protection of cryptographic keys using hardware security modules (HSMs) .
11. Deployment of Root CA Certificates: Distribute the root CA certificates to all devices on your network to ensure seamless certificate validation .