Public Key Infrastructure

Definition

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a framework that manages digital keys and certificates used to secure communications and verify identities in a network. It connects public key cryptography with digital signatures, ensuring that individuals and organizations can securely exchange information and authenticate each other's identities. By providing a system of trust, PKI plays a crucial role in enabling secure online transactions and communications.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. PKI is essential for implementing security protocols like SSL/TLS, which protect data exchanged over the internet.
2. Public and private keys work in pairs; the public key encrypts information while the private key decrypts it, ensuring secure communication.
3. PKI includes several components: digital certificates, registration authorities, certificate authorities, and repositories for storing certificates.
4. Revocation lists are maintained within PKI to keep track of invalidated certificates that should no longer be trusted.
5. A strong PKI implementation helps to establish non-repudiation, meaning that a sender cannot deny sending a message, as their digital signature proves their involvement.

Review Questions

• How does Public Key Infrastructure enhance security in digital communications?
  • Public Key Infrastructure enhances security by providing a structured way to manage keys and certificates that validate identities. By using PKI, organizations can ensure that the public keys they use to encrypt data truly belong to the intended recipients. This prevents impersonation and man-in-the-middle attacks, as users can trust that their communications are secure and authenticated through this established framework.
• Discuss the roles of Certificate Authorities and Registration Authorities within Public Key Infrastructure.
  • Certificate Authorities (CAs) and Registration Authorities (RAs) play vital roles in Public Key Infrastructure by managing the issuance and verification of digital certificates. The CA is responsible for issuing certificates and maintaining the integrity of the certificate lifecycle, while the RA acts as a mediator between users and the CA. The RA verifies the identity of entities requesting certificates before they are issued, helping to ensure trust in the entire PKI system.
• Evaluate the implications of PKI on online transactions and its role in establishing trust on the internet.
  • Public Key Infrastructure significantly impacts online transactions by establishing a secure environment where users can trust that their data is protected. By allowing encryption and authentication through digital signatures, PKI enables secure exchanges between parties who may not know each other. This trust is crucial for e-commerce, as customers need assurance that their sensitive information remains confidential and that they are interacting with legitimate entities, ultimately facilitating broader adoption of online services.

Related terms

Digital Certificate: A digital certificate is an electronic document used to prove the ownership of a public key, linking it to an entity's identity, thereby facilitating secure communication.

Certificate Authority: A Certificate Authority (CA) is an entity responsible for issuing digital certificates and managing the public keys associated with those certificates, ensuring their validity and trustworthiness.

Encryption: Encryption is the process of converting plaintext data into a coded format to prevent unauthorized access, using algorithms that often involve public and private keys.