PKI

PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) = A framework for managing digital keys and certificates, ensuring secure communications and network transactions, such as encryption, authentication, and digital signatures.
Digital certificates = Electronic documents used to prove the ownership of a public key, verifying the certificate holder’s identity in secure communications.
Public key = A cryptographic key that is publicly shared, used for encryption in asymmetric encryption systems. It pairs with a private key for secure communication.
Private key = A cryptographic key kept secret by the owner, used to decrypt messages encrypted with the corresponding public key and for signing data.
Encryption = The process of converting data into a secure format that is unreadable without the appropriate decryption key, protecting sensitive information.
Digital signatures = Cryptographic signatures that verify the authenticity and integrity of data, ensuring that the information has not been altered and comes from a trusted source.
Certificate authority (CA) = An organization that issues digital certificates, verifying the identity of certificate holders and ensuring their public keys are legitimate.
Registration authority (RA) = An entity responsible for accepting requests for digital certificates and authenticating the identity of the certificate requester before certificate issuance.
Key management = The process of handling cryptographic keys, including their generation, distribution, storage, and deletion, ensuring the security and integrity of the PKI system.
Certificate revocation = The process of invalidating a digital certificate before its expiration, typically due to security concerns, such as a compromised private key.
SSL/TLS = Cryptographic protocols that use PKI to secure communication over networks, such as encrypting data during website transactions or email exchanges.
Two-factor authentication (2FA) = A security process that requires two forms of identification, often involving something the user knows (password) and something the user has (a digital certificate or token).
Public key cryptography = A cryptographic system that uses a pair of keys (public and private) for encryption and decryption, providing secure communication.
Key pair = A set of two cryptographic keys, a public key and a private key, used together for encryption and decryption operations.
Trust model = The framework in PKI that defines the relationships of trust between the entities involved, including CAs, RAs, and end users.
Secure Socket Layer (SSL) = A protocol that uses PKI for encrypting communication over a network, ensuring the security of web-based transactions and data exchanges.
Transport Layer Security (TLS) = The successor to SSL, TLS is used to encrypt data transmitted over the internet, utilizing PKI for secure key exchanges and authentication.

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