Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)<\/a> is a security framework that enables secure digital communication, identity authentication, data integrity, and trust across networks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI is anchored in a pair of cryptographic keys, public and private, that encrypt and decrypt information, authenticate users and devices, and digitally sign communications or processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a world increasingly connected by digital technology, PKI is the infrastructure of trust for secure enterprise operations, from websites and email to applications and internal devices to IoT devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI is critical in authenticating the identity of users, devices, and systems. Authentication ensures that only authorized users or machines are accessing the company assets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enterprises, like any organization, use digital certificates to authenticate users, devices, and machines; these certificates are issued by a trusted intermediary, a Certificate Authority (CA)<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI allows organizations to establish trusted verification of a user’s, device’s, or machine’s identity in a secure manner for both internal people interacting with internal systems and external partners or customers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Authenticating specific enterprise processes, like logging into enterprise applications, accessing sensitive data, or interacting with an external partner, can be referenced as potential authentication scenarios.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Depending on the enterprise, it is commonplace to reference the use of multi-factor authentication (MFA)<\/a> as a baseline for an authentication process, which can include user knowledge, user identity (biometric), and even user ownership (multi-factor).<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also Read:<\/strong> What Is a Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA)? Difference Between 2FA & MFA<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Implementing an authentication process and using MFA is a very effective way to mitigate the risk of insecure access to systems and data, especially since malicious users or malicious automated scripts impersonating a legitimate user or system can now be extraordinarily difficult to defend against without effective authentication processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Encryption<\/a> is one of the most powerful capabilities of PKI. With encryption, PKI ensures sensitive data is not accessible by those who cannot read the content of the communications or stored data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When data is encrypted, it is unreadable by anyone who does not have the correct decryption key. In these cases, PKI typically uses a public key to encrypt the data, while a private key is used to decrypt the data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This offers both secure access to data in transit (email, transactions, web traffic) and secure access to data at rest (files, databases, etc.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n As a result, PKI-encrypted communications can lessen the likelihood of data breaches, man-in-the-middle attacks<\/a>, and unauthorized access to the data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Data integrity means being sure that the data received is precisely the data sent with no changes (modifications) to the data during transmission.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) data integrity is established by the use of hashing functions and digital signatures. When a data item is sent, a hash value is computed for that data item, and the data is signed with a digital signature by the sender’s private key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When the data is received, the recipient can perform two verifications. The first is that the recipient can verify the integrity of the data by comparing it to the hash value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read Also:<\/strong> What is Private PKI vs. Public PKI? Key Differences<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The second is that the recipient can verify the identity of the sender using the digital signature with the sender’s public key.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This way provides a mechanism to determine if someone has tampered with the data either intentionally or unintentionally, and thus helps protect against fraud or unauthorized modifications to information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In PKI, you should consider non-repudiation along with accountability when determining the correct evidence to establish that a user (or entity) will not be able to deny some action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When an entity digitally signs an email, transaction, etc., it is signing with its private key, thereby creating a record of its action.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The digital signature binds the signer and the action, and the signature is uniquely tied to both the data and the signer; therefore, a signer cannot deny signing or sending a message, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Read Also:<\/strong> What is PKI as a Service? Which One is Right for You \u2013 PKI or PKIaaS?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Non-repudiation becomes increasingly important in legal, financial, business, etc., transactions where an entity must take responsibility for its actions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the design of PKI, you have a reliable and trustworthy method of being able to provide provenance and some sort of evidence establishing non-repudiation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With every passing year, more restrictions\/rules\/laws\/treaties, etc. will have a direct impact on the company you work for today. Permits, Licences, or understandable regulations from data protection and privacy laws are no longer optional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You must comply with regulations such as GDPR, HIPAA, PCI-DSS<\/a>, etc. All regulations require businesses to implement strong security measures to protect Data (Encryption, Strong Authentication, and Audit Trails being some examples).<\/p>\n\n\n\n By implementing a PKI to secure sensitive data in organizational processes, PKI can help organizations with these regulations by providing the necessary compliance level for secure sensitive data.<\/p>\n\n\n\n An example of this security is through the encryption PKI offers to protect personal Data, such as releasing an individual’s data whether it’s in transit or storage, and\/or providing signatures as proof of authenticity that the documents maintain integrity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By executing the best practices of PKI security<\/a>, your organisation can show its customers it has a habit of protecting their data, minimising the chance of getting penalised or suffering reputation loss based on non-compliance with regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI is extremely useful as a code signing utility in organizations. Code signing means using a digital signature on programs, applications, or scripts to determine their authenticity or trustworthiness prior to execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By signing your code with a certificate, your organization can determine whether the code was tampered with or altered, as well as if it originates from a reliable entity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Recommended:<\/strong> Enterprise Code Signing PKI Solution<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Code signing is also used to decrease the chance of malicious code getting on the user’s machine, and the user may inadvertently download or run untrusted applications\/code.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Code signing is essential to software vendors, developers, and organizations that host executable files for consumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI services are the foundation of SSL\/TLS certificates<\/a>, which are used to encrypt web traffic and are incredibly useful for securing organizations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SSL\/TLS certificates are presented during the encrypted communication process, which requires two parties to agree to their requirements before confidential information is locked from prying eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Organizations can implement SSL\/TLS certificates within the web browser to secure sensitive information from unintended parties while in transit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n SSL\/TLS certificates are also used to convey trust to website visitors by demonstrating to visitors that their data is secure while in transit, denoted by the little padlock icon in the web browser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI is a critical and foundational technology for SSL\/TLS certificates used to secure web traffic. SSL\/TLS certificates provide encrypted communication between a web server and a user’s web browser.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This protects user data from being intercepted or eavesdropped on while the data is being transmitted over the web.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Enterprises can use EV SSL\/TLS Certificates<\/a> to secure sensitive information sent across the internet, such as logon credentials, personally identifiable information, and any payment information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SSL\/TLS certificates also help establish trust with their site visitors, as a padlock icon is displayed on the browser’s address bar when a communication path is encrypted using SSL\/TLS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Email communication is one of the most significant areas of risk for companies, as email communication can facilitate attacks like phishing and data breaches. PKI helps secure email communications with encryption and digital signing of email messages with Enterprise S\/MIME PKI Solutions<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Email encryption protects the actual content of the email so that the only person who can read the email is the intended recipient. Email signing provides authentication for the sender and can prove that the message was not changed, as long as the signature remains valid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Email encryption and signing<\/a> provide an extra layer of security that helps keep the contents of sensitive information from being accessed by unauthorized users, as well as mitigate the risks of email-based attacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VPNs are a popular method for organizations to allow secure, remote access for employees. PKI supports the use of VPNs for secure remote access in many ways; however, the most important is allowing for certificate-based authentication for devices and users connecting to the VPN and enterprise network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI mitigates the risk of using only usernames and passwords for access to the VPN and corporate network, allowing your organization to ensure that only trusted and authenticated devices and users are connecting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Also Read:<\/strong> What Is a PKI Certificate? [Detailed Guide]<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n This is much more securely accomplished through certificate-based authentication and the cryptographic strength of digital certificates than a simple password.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, when possible, using device and user authentication that relies on a PKI will make it more difficult for unauthorized devices to connect through the VPN and launch man-in-the-middle attacks against the organization’s corporate resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI is used frequently in secure file-sharing and storage services that ensure sensitive documents remain protected both in transit and in storage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using encrypted documents and document signature methods, files can be shared securely and with confidence that only authorized users have access or can open shared content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This is sometimes called “secure file sharing” and is very important in industries like finance, healthcare, and legal services, where the confidentiality of documents or files shared is vitally important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Several collaboration tools also leverage PKI for secure collaboration, for the ability to use secure certificate-based authentication systems in the different collaboration engines, depending on whether an organization is allowing use of internal systems, external systems, or some combination of the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI is well-suited to be used in Multiple Factor Authentication (MFA) solutions for secure access to enterprise systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI offers an additional potential second factor of authentication that basic password-based authentication systems do not have, through the use of smart cards, USB tokens, or certificates on a device.<\/p>\n\n\n\n MFA is one factor, something you know (a password), and one factor, something you have (a certificate or smart card), and if someone stole your credentials – e.g,. password, MFA will prevent access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI integrates well with Identity and Access Management (IAM) systems, which provide certificate-based authentication for users and devices.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI is a means for enterprises to securely manage digital identities to enforce access to data, applications, and networks to only those individuals or devices that have authorization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI can also be integrated into an SSO (Single Sign On) access solution to provide a more simplified access solution for users, while still being a secure method of granting access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI provides an organization with greater access controls and assurance that individuals with access have the appropriate level of access.<\/p>\n\n\n\n As organizations implement IoT (Internet of Things) technology, ensuring that IoT devices are safe is vital. PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) is used to manage IoT devices and authentication with digital certificates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone or anything using an organization\u2019s device and accessing private\/protected enterprise networks and data will be authenticated before connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI provides a level of assurance (the identity is bound to the digital certificate) that only allows trusted devices to connect to an enterprise’s network.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By implementing PKI for the authentication of IoT devices, organizations can eliminate the risk of unauthorized devices gaining access to their networks and limit the risk of breaches or asymmetric activity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With the increase of phishing and email impersonation, brands (and more than likely your organization) are considering Verified Mark Certificates (VMC)<\/a> or Common Mark Certificates (CMC)<\/a> to help protect identity and secure delivery of legitimate emails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n PKI is used to issue and manage Mark Certificates in the management of VMCs and CMCs, the PKI system referencing a graphic in the email header that is typically a logo or other means of visual identification, to verify the email as being from a secure and trusted source.<\/p>\n\n\n\n VMCs and CMCs are combined with DMARC<\/a> (Domain-based Message Authentication, Reporting, and Conformance) and BIMI<\/a> (Brand Indicators for Message Identification) specifications that work to curb email fraud and increase trust associated with email delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n From securing email communications to verifying IoT device identities, as well as executing strong user authentication protocols, Certera allows businesses to see that they have the capabilities to establish a compliant and secure environment. <\/p>\n\n\n\nWhy is PKI Important to Enterprises?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Authentication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Encryption<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Data Integrity<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Non-repudiation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Regulatory Compliance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Top 10 PKI Use Cases for Robust Organization Security<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Code Signing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
SSL\/TLS Certificates for Secure Web Communications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Web Communication with SSL TLS Certificates<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Email Encryption and Signing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Virtual Private Networks (VPNs)<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Secure File Sharing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Multiple Factor Authentication<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Identity and Access Management<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Securing IoT (Internet of Things) Devices<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Digital Certificates for Mark Certificates <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Conclusion<\/h2>\n\n\n\n