Introduction

Since the dawn of the Internet, security has been a constant battle. While keeping digital networks open and free is a defining principle of the web, since the beginning a set of standards has been developed to ensure that all transactions take place with trust, security and safety in mind--Public Key Infrastructure.


Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a system that creates, stores, and distributes digital certificates which verify that a particular public key belongs to a certain entity. PKI creates digital certificates which map public keys to entities, securely stores these certificates in a central repository and revokes them if needed. The goal of PKI is to enable the secure electronic transfer of information across a network to support activities such as e-commerce, online banking and email.


Public Key Infrastructure forms the backbone of the secure web and is the silent force that enables the dynamic Internet-enabled economy that flourishes today.