What is PKI?
PKI is acronym of Public Key Infrastructure. A PKI is a comprehensive system of policies, processes, and technologies working together to enable users of the Internet to exchange information securely and confidentially. Public Key Infrastructures are based on the use of cryptography V the scrambling of information by a mathematical formula and a virtual key so that it can only be decoded by an authorized party using a related key. A PKI uses pairs of cryptographic keys provided by a trusted third party known as a Certification Authority (CA). Central to the workings of a PKI, a CA issues digital certificates that positively identify the holder’s identity. A Certification Authority maintains accessible directories of valid certificates, and a list of certificates it has revoked.
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is the basis for digital signatures (standard electronic signatures) today. PKI provides each user with a pair of keys, a Private Key and a Public Key, used in every signed transaction. The Private Key, as the name implies, is not shared and is used only by the signer to sign documents. The Public Key is openly available and used by those that need to validate the signer’s digital signature. PKI encompasses different components which include a Certificate Authority (CA), end-user enrollment software, and tools for managing, renewing, and revoking keys and certificates.
PKI or Public Key Infrastructure is a set of comprehensive system policies, procedures, and technologies working together to allow secure and confidential communication between internet users. PKI is based on the idea of encryption using public and private keys. PKI uses key pairs (public and private keys) where the public key is digitally signed by a third party known as a certification authority.
