Implementing Public Key Infrastructure

October 19, 2022

In Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), certificates are used for authentication in place of Email ID and Password. PKI utilizes asymmetric encryption, which employs public and Private Keys, to encrypt communication. The management of certificates and keys is handled by PKI, which also generates a very secure environment that users, programs, and other devices may utilize. For both parties to trust one another and verify their validity, PKI employs X.509 certificates and public keys, where the key is used for end-to-end encrypted communication.

While the user verifies the server’s authenticity to ensure it is not a spoof, PKI is mainly utilized in TLS/SSL to secure connections between the user and the server. IoT device authentication may also be done using SSL certificates.

The purpose of Public Key Infrastructure

PKI provides a mechanism to identify users, gadgets, and applications while delivering strong encryption to ensure that both sides’ communications stay private. PKI offers digital signatures and certificates in addition to authentication and identification to let certificate holders build personalized login credentials and verify their identity.

PKI is used by TLS/SSL, which is used across the Internet. The client obtains the certificate and verifies it to guarantee its validity before communicating with the server (in this example, a web browser). Afterward, it uses asymmetric encryption to secure all communication with and from the server. The public key, signature method, issuer of the certificate, certificate holder, and other details are all included in the digital certificate.

PKI is used in software signing, digital signatures, and SSL across the internet. Smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, passports, mobile banking, and other gadgets employ PKI. Organizations use PKI in various methods to maintain security at its highest level, solve compliance difficulties, adhere to all legislation, and keep everything secure.

What encryptions are used in Public Key Infrastructure?

Symmetric and asymmetric encryption are both used by PKI to safeguard all of its resources.

In asymmetric encryption, two different keys are used for encryption and decryption, also known as public key cryptography. A public key is one of them, while a private key is the other. Although the private key cannot be produced from the public key, the public key may be used to create the private key. Only the public key may decode encryption and vice versa. This pair of keys is called a “public and private key pair.”

A public key that will start a secure conversation between two parties is connected to SSL certificates for encrypted communication between a client and a server. In comparison to symmetric encryption, asymmetric encryption is more recent and slower. A secret key is exchanged via asymmetric encryption during the first handshake between the two parties.

For subsequent communication, symmetric encryption is established using the exchanged secret key. Because symmetric encryption is quicker than asymmetric encryption, solid end-to-end security may be achieved by combining the two.

Digital certificates: what are they? What does it do?

In PKI, digital certificates are often utilized. A digital certificate is a particular form of identity for a person, thing, server, website, and other application. Digital certificates are used to authenticate and verify an entity’s legitimacy. It also enables two computers to trust and establish encrypted communication without worrying about becoming spoofs. Additionally, it aids in verification, which facilitates the growth and credibility of e-commerce in the payment industry.

Sam Fareed

Lead Instructor qualified in CISSP, CCIE, and MCT with 25 years of training experience in Toronto.