Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a comprehensive framework that includes various components essential for managing digital certificates and public-key encryption. The key elements of PKI are:
Certificate Authority (CA): This is a trusted entity responsible for issuing, revoking, and managing digital certificates. The CA provides the root of trust for all PKI certificates[1][2][5].
Registration Authority (RA): Often a subordinate CA, the RA is certified by a root CA and is authorized to issue certificates for specific uses. It acts as an intermediary between the user and the CA, handling the verification of the user's identity before a certificate is issued[1][2].
Certificate Store: This is a repository where certificates, certificate revocation lists (CRLs), and certificate trust lists (CTLs) are stored. It can be maintained on a computer or in memory for applications[1].
Certificate Database: This database stores information about issued certificates, including their validity period and status. It is essential for managing the lifecycle of certificates and for revocation processes[1].
Public and Private Keys: PKI uses a pair of cryptographic keys – a public key and a private key. The public key is used to encrypt data and can be distributed openly, while the private key is used to decrypt data and must be kept secure[1][2][5].
Digital Certificates: These are electronic documents that use a digital signature to bind a public key with an identity. They are used to verify that a public key belongs to a specific entity[1][2][5].
