What is Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)?

In a digital world with Cyber breach becoming a common challenge, validating and trusting an Identity becomes one of the most important aspect of Cyber Security. As such Public Key Infrastructure creates a security ecosystem by acting as the center of trust for all system by issuing Digital identities in the forms of Digital Certificates. In addition to creating digital identity, these devices also authenticate and encrypt digital communication by use of cryptographic keys in the combination of symmetric and asymmetric encryption. A public key and a private key is owned and obtained by the specific certificate or key owner. The goal of PKI is to attain trust by issuing and managing digital certificates where secure trust is created within an environment. Within this secure environment, the PKI will establish a structured system giving the ability of certain technologies.

Certificates act as a driver’s license displaying all the information needed to ensure identification of the particular user, server, or issuing authority as well as ownership of the public key as well.