What Is a PKI Certificate? [Detailed Guide]

What is a PKI Certificate?

PKI Certificate, also known as a digital certificate, is an electronic document used for the purpose of verifying the possession of a certain public key in a particular security system.

It also plays an important role in authenticating safe communication as well as transactions using networks like the Internet.

The PKI certificate consists of important attributes such as a public key, the Subject which includes the holder of the certificate, the Certificate Authority that issues the certificate, valid time and a digital signature from the CA.

They serve to build trust and create secure connections based on encryption by authenticating involved entities such as a website, person, or device.

What can you use a PKI Certificate for?

PKI certificates are used in multiple applications to provide the security elements to the communication channels, such as SSL/TLS in websites, secured interface in mail systems, code signatures and system authentication.

Also Read: PKI Certificate Management: Avoid Common Pitfalls & Embrace Best Practices

The steps include key generation, which includes public and private keys, preparing and submitting a certificate signing request to CA, going through a verification process, and finally getting a certificate that is issued and signed by CA.

It is then issued and circulated, thereby enhancing secure communication since other parties can authenticate the certificate through the signature of the CA.

Types of PKI certificates

SSL/TLS Certificates

The SSL/TLS certificates remain highly essential in providing security for any interaction between the web server and the browser. They guarantee that all information transmitted through the internet is protected and authentic, not to be changed or viewed by strangers.

These certificates come in many varieties, each being different in terms of the level of the validation it grants as well as the level of trust that can be placed on the localization.

In terms of the amount of identity assurance given, Domain Validated (DV) SSL Certificates are the least rigorous since all they do is verify that the applicant owns the given domain.

Organization Validated (OV) SSL Certificates provide greater assurance because the certificate authority checks the bona fides of the organization identified with the domain name.

Extended Validation (EV) SSL certificates undergo thorough review and are the most secure; the browsers indicate it through a green color bar or the business name on the address bar in the web browser.

Code Signing Certificates

Code signing certificates are very important to software developers since, through them, they can sign their code or the software they develop. It also helps check whether the code has been modified since the moment of signing and confirms the identity of the publisher.

This helps the users to have confidence in the software they are downloading or updating because they are certain that it is not modified in any way by wrongdoers.

This helps preserve the integrity of software distribution and safeguards the end-user from running dangerous programs.

Email Certificates (S/MIME)

S/MIME certificates are issued to provide secure encryption and signing of Multipurpose Internet Mail Extensions (MIME) messages.

Encryption makes sure that the content of emails being passed is not interfered with or accessed by anyone who has no business dealing with the content.

Digital signing helps to confirm the identity of the sender to ensure that the method of communication cannot be manipulated by phishing or email spoofing.

To fully secure an organization’s email communications, S/MIME certificates should be employed for organizations in the financial or legal industries, for example.

Client Certificates

Client certificates are documents that can be utilized to identify clients and users to systems and applications, in certain contexts such as within an organization.

Such certificates are commonly used as the second factor in the two factor authentication where in the first factor is Knowledge based where a user has to enter a password while the second factor is Possession where a user has to enter a certificate.

Since it provides an extra line of defense, this layer aids in the shielding of important data and networks from unauthorized personnel, who have no business accessing any certain materials or networks.

Server Certificates

Server certificates are for server devices so that they can be recognized by the clients and enable encrypted communication channels.

These certificates are mainly deployed in virtual private networks and other highly secure communication systems to ensure that any information being transferred between devices is secure and cannot be compromised by a third party.

Such certificates extend trust from the server to clients, who then can trust their connection to a genuine and secure server.

Document Signing Certificates

In document signing certificates, one has a way of electronically signing the documents with the aim of validating the authenticity of the signer and the content of the document in question.

Such certificates are employed within the legal and financial domains, as well as in various businesses for replacing handwritten signatures.

Upon embedding a digital signature, organizations can be confident that the signed documents have not been modified after signing and the receiver can vouch for the authenticity of the signer.

This is important especially when it comes to validating the legal nature of documents and to curb incidences of document forgery.

Device Certificates

Device certificates provide specific device identity credentials for the Internet of Things (IoT) environment. These certificates make sure that only the right devices or gadgets can access or join the network and be able to exchange data.

The implementation of device certificates helps organizations to reduce instances of unauthorized access to devices in the organization’s network.

Thus improving the security of the organization’s systems from particular attacks. This is especially where IoT devices are employed for collection and transfer of private data.

Root Certificates

Speaking of PKI, the root certificates are all that are situated at the top of the hierarchy. These are self-generated and serve as root certificates that form the basis of trust for all certificates that are issued by the same CA.

Also read: Root Certificate vs Intermediate Certificate: Difference

These root certificates are usually pre-installed in given web browsers and operating systems to facilitate trust relations in numerous digital certificates.

Since they are placed at the top of the trust hierarchy, root certificates must be secured in a way to avoid their compromise because their loss will lead to a compromised PKI system.

Intermediate Certificates

Intermediate certificates are also certified by a root certificate and act as a link between the root certificate and such certificates as SSL/TLS certificates.

Such intermediate certificates serve to control and strengthen the trust and security of the certificate within the hierarchy of the PKI because they reduce the risks associated with the root certificate.

If an intermediate certificate is lost or if it is in the hands of an attacker, all that the attacker has is the capacity to impersonate the certificates that were issued by the intermediate certificate and not the entire trust chain.

These allow a more effective segmentation of the overall PKI system as well as improve on the security and manageability of the same.

How to Get a PKI Certificate?

Even a simple certificate obtained for the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) involves some steps to ascertain the identity of the applicant and secure the certificate installation.

Here’s a detailed guide on how to get a PKI certificate:

Determine the Type of PKI Certificate Needed

First, the individual requirements and the type of needed PKI certificate shall be defined.

Incidentally, irrespective of whether one wants an SSL/TLS certificate for website encryption, a code signing certificate for software distribution, an email certificate for secure communications, or otherwise, it is crucial to understand their uses and various essential requirements and specifications.

Choose a Certificate Authority (CA)

Choose the right Certificate Authority (CA) that will be responsible for issuing a PKI certificate. Some of the most used CAs are DigiCert, Globalsign, Comodo, and Certera.

Many CAs provide detailed information on their services, trust levels, and prices so that you can compare the services of different CAs to choose the best one that suits your needs.

Generate a Certificate Signing Request (CSR)

In order to acquire a certificate, one has to create a Certificate Signing Request (CSR) first. This is a block of encoded text that belongs to you and contains your public key and details of your organization.

Steps to Generate a CSR For Web Servers:

• Access your operating system and open the web server console or through the command line prompt.
• Another way of generating the CSR is by using a tool or a command .undefined
• openssl req -new -newkey rsa:2048 -nodes -keyout yourdomain. key -out yourdomain. csr
• Next, go along with successive windows to type in your domain name, your organization’s name, and its geographical location.

Steps to Generate a CSR For Email or Code Signing:

• It is recommended to use a CSR generation tool which is provided by your CA or which may be integrated in your operating system.

Submit the CSR to the CA/Provider

Upon getting the CSR, send it to the CA of your choice through the application process of the CA of your choice. This is typically achieved by signing up for CA’s website, completing an HTML form with the organizational information, and submitting the CSR.

Complete the Validation Process

The CA will make validation checks to ensure the identity of the administrator is genuine and all information entered into the CSR is accurate. The level of validation depends on the type of certificate:

Domain Validated (DV) Certificates

An area of the domain that is enabled for instant validation by providing owners’ affirmation on the specialty through the use of an email, DNS record, or file upload is considered.

Organization Validated (OV) Certificates

Sending business documents such as letters, invoices or official documents that are specific to the organization to check the authenticity of the domain and the organization.

Extended Validation (EV) Certificates

Legal and operational verification, which implies passing through numerous complex validations.

Receive and Install the Certificate

Once your PKI meets the validation requirements, the CA will grant the certificate. The certificate file will either be sent to the email address or account with the CA firm that issued it.

Steps to Install a Certificate For Web Servers:

• Remember to now restart the web server to make the changes that have been made take effect.

Steps to Install Email or Code Signing Cert:

• Import the certificate into your email client or code signing tool, following the application-specific instructions.

Test and Verify the Installation

As a last step of the installation, always check and confirm that the certificate is correct and functioning as required.

When it comes to SSL/TLS certificates, there are many online tools that one can use to validate the certificate, especially through SSL Checker to confirm if indeed the certificate is properly installed and recognized by various browsers.

Renew and Maintain the Certificate

PKI certificates also have validity and these last between one and two years. Always make sure that you identify the validity period of your certificate and ensure to renew it before it expires in order not to interrupt the services.

Make sure to periodically look for changes and to re-release the certificate if there is something different in your company’s data.

Conclusion

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