BCA / B.Tech 9 min read

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and Encryption:

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a security framework that enables secure communication over the internet based on public key cryptography. It provides the foundation for data encryption, digital signatures, and identity management.

Key Components of PKI:
  • Public and Private Keys: A pair of cryptographically related keys. The public key is used to encrypt data and is shared openly. The private key is kept secret and is used to decrypt the data.
  • - Certificate Authority (CA): A trusted entity that issues digital certificates. A digital certificate binds a public key to a specific identity (a person or organization), thus verifying who owns the key.
  • Registration Authority (RA): Verifies the identity of users requesting a certificate from the CA.
  • Certificate Repository: A database that stores digital certificates.

PKI is essential for secure e-commerce, online banking, and other secure internet communications.