diff --git a/authority/authority.go b/authority/authority.go
index cdf2c8bf..c184c6e9 100644
--- a/authority/authority.go
+++ b/authority/authority.go
@@ -250,6 +250,7 @@ func (a *Authority) init() error {
 	}
 
 	var err error
+	ctx := NewContext(context.Background(), a)
 
 	// Set password if they are not set.
 	var configPassword []byte
@@ -285,7 +286,7 @@ func (a *Authority) init() error {
 		if a.config.KMS != nil {
 			options = *a.config.KMS
 		}
-		a.keyManager, err = kms.New(context.Background(), options)
+		a.keyManager, err = kms.New(ctx, options)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -315,7 +316,7 @@ func (a *Authority) init() error {
 
 		// Configure linked RA
 		if linkedcaClient != nil && options.CertificateAuthority == "" {
-			conf, err := linkedcaClient.GetConfiguration(context.Background())
+			conf, err := linkedcaClient.GetConfiguration(ctx)
 			if err != nil {
 				return err
 			}
@@ -349,7 +350,7 @@ func (a *Authority) init() error {
 			}
 		}
 
-		a.x509CAService, err = cas.New(context.Background(), options)
+		a.x509CAService, err = cas.New(ctx, options)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -536,7 +537,7 @@ func (a *Authority) init() error {
 			}
 		}
 
-		a.scepService, err = scep.NewService(context.Background(), options)
+		a.scepService, err = scep.NewService(ctx, options)
 		if err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -558,19 +559,19 @@ func (a *Authority) init() error {
 			}
 		}
 
-		provs, err := a.adminDB.GetProvisioners(context.Background())
+		provs, err := a.adminDB.GetProvisioners(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			return admin.WrapErrorISE(err, "error loading provisioners to initialize authority")
 		}
 		if len(provs) == 0 && !strings.EqualFold(a.config.AuthorityConfig.DeploymentType, "linked") {
 			// Create First Provisioner
-			prov, err := CreateFirstProvisioner(context.Background(), a.adminDB, string(a.password))
+			prov, err := CreateFirstProvisioner(ctx, a.adminDB, string(a.password))
 			if err != nil {
 				return admin.WrapErrorISE(err, "error creating first provisioner")
 			}
 
 			// Create first admin
-			if err := a.adminDB.CreateAdmin(context.Background(), &linkedca.Admin{
+			if err := a.adminDB.CreateAdmin(ctx, &linkedca.Admin{
 				ProvisionerId: prov.Id,
 				Subject:       "step",
 				Type:          linkedca.Admin_SUPER_ADMIN,
@@ -581,12 +582,12 @@ func (a *Authority) init() error {
 	}
 
 	// Load Provisioners and Admins
-	if err := a.reloadAdminResources(context.Background()); err != nil {
+	if err := a.reloadAdminResources(ctx); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
 	// Load x509 and SSH Policy Engines
-	if err := a.reloadPolicyEngines(context.Background()); err != nil {
+	if err := a.reloadPolicyEngines(ctx); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 
@@ -611,6 +612,15 @@ func (a *Authority) init() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
+// GetID returns the define authority id or a zero uuid.
+func (a *Authority) GetID() string {
+	const zeroUUID = "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"
+	if id := a.config.AuthorityConfig.AuthorityID; id != "" {
+		return id
+	}
+	return zeroUUID
+}
+
 // GetDatabase returns the authority database. If the configuration does not
 // define a database, GetDatabase will return a db.SimpleDB instance.
 func (a *Authority) GetDatabase() db.AuthDB {
diff --git a/authority/authority_test.go b/authority/authority_test.go
index 1f63333d..9f35f23e 100644
--- a/authority/authority_test.go
+++ b/authority/authority_test.go
@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/pkg/errors"
 	"github.com/smallstep/assert"
+	"github.com/smallstep/certificates/authority/config"
 	"github.com/smallstep/certificates/authority/provisioner"
 	"github.com/smallstep/certificates/db"
 	"go.step.sm/crypto/jose"
@@ -421,3 +422,31 @@ func TestAuthority_GetSCEPService(t *testing.T) {
 		})
 	}
 }
+
+func TestAuthority_GetID(t *testing.T) {
+	type fields struct {
+		authorityID string
+	}
+	tests := []struct {
+		name   string
+		fields fields
+		want   string
+	}{
+		{"ok", fields{""}, "00000000-0000-0000-0000-000000000000"},
+		{"ok with id", fields{"10b9a431-ed3b-4a5f-abee-ec35119b65e7"}, "10b9a431-ed3b-4a5f-abee-ec35119b65e7"},
+	}
+	for _, tt := range tests {
+		t.Run(tt.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			a := &Authority{
+				config: &config.Config{
+					AuthorityConfig: &config.AuthConfig{
+						AuthorityID: tt.fields.authorityID,
+					},
+				},
+			}
+			if got := a.GetID(); got != tt.want {
+				t.Errorf("Authority.GetID() = %v, want %v", got, tt.want)
+			}
+		})
+	}
+}