PKIinfrastruktuuris

PKIinfrastruktuuris, often referred to as a Public Key Infrastructure, is a system of hardware, software, people, policies, and procedures required to create, manage, distribute, use, store, and revoke digital certificates and manage public-key encryption. The primary purpose of a PKI is to enable secure electronic transfer of information for activities like e-commerce, internet banking, and confidential email. It underpins trust in digital communications by providing a framework for verifying identities and ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.

The core components of a PKI include a Certificate Authority (CA), which is a trusted entity responsible for issuing and revoking digital certificates. Registration Authorities (RAs) may also be involved, acting as intermediaries between users and the CA to verify identities. Digital certificates themselves bind a public key to an identity, allowing others to encrypt messages for that identity or verify digital signatures made by it. The system also relies on mechanisms for certificate distribution and a Certificate Revocation List (CRL) or Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) to check the validity of certificates that may have been compromised or are no longer trusted. Implementing a robust PKI is crucial for secure online interactions and the overall security posture of an organization.