PKIsertifikaatin

PKI sertifikaatin, often referred to as a digital certificate or public key certificate, is a fundamental component of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). It serves as an electronic document that binds a public key to an identified entity, such as an individual, organization, or device. This binding is validated by a trusted third party known as a Certificate Authority (CA). The certificate typically contains information including the entity's name, its public key, the CA's digital signature, the certificate's validity period, and a unique serial number.

The primary purpose of a PKI sertifikaatin is to establish trust and enable secure communication and transactions over insecure networks like the internet. When an entity wishes to send a digitally signed message or establish an encrypted connection, it uses its private key. The recipient can then use the sender's public key, found within their PKI sertifikaatin, to verify the authenticity of the signature or decrypt the message. This ensures both non-repudiation (the sender cannot deny sending the message) and confidentiality.

PKI sertifikaatit are used in a wide range of applications, including secure website connections (SSL/TLS certificates), email encryption and signing (S/MIME certificates), secure software distribution, and digital identity verification for employees and customers. The integrity and trustworthiness of the PKI system rely heavily on the robust practices of the CAs that issue these certificates and the secure management of private keys.