PKI or public key infrastructure was created in order to supply organizations with a secure method for communicating and sending data over public networks, like the internet. Without public key infrastructure, your data would be susceptible to anyone who wanted to intercept and access it. However, by implementing the right types of solutions' various methods, you are able to create a layer of security and protection. For example, one option many companies use is to create digital certificates with a certificate authority system. The digital certificates contain either a public key or private key, which is used to establish authentication and secure the connection, prior to sending or receiving data.
You Can Use Different Types of Digital Certificates with PKI
The kinds of digital certificates you use with PKI depend upon the type of secure connection you require. For instance, two factor authentication systems rely upon digital certificates, along with user names and passwords, to authenticate your employees and other authorized users to access your online resources and network. Two factor authentication is able to be used for cloud environments, web authentication, SaaS authentication, VOIP authentication, increasing extranet security, mobile authentication, and VPN authentication, as well as securing financial transactions performed over public networks and the internet. Another option some organization use is to create digital certificates for use with SSL. SSL is different from two factor authentication, as it creates a secure socket layer, often in the background once a connection is established, but does not typically also require users to provide their user names and passwords to complete the connection.