The digital world runs on interconnected systems and software. Encryption is what makes it all possible.
Public key infrastructure, or PKI, serves as the foundation for digital trust, enabling authentication, encryption, and integrity, all essential to securing connections across your business. Today’s digital collaboration and innovation couldn’t exist without the simple principle of secure handshakes between users and devices on the internet.
The number of certificates is growing exponentially in the face of global networks, more connected devices, and an increased remote workforce. Failed authentication can throw a wrench in your operations. Implementing a nimble, automated solution can set your IT or security department up for success in the face of changing technologies and threats, reduce human error, and save valuable time.
This article details the key things you need to know about PKI technology and how it empowers your organization to securely scale business operations.
What is PKI?
PKI is cryptographic infrastructure that uses public and private keys for digital security. PKI enables encrypted communications, passwordless authentication, and data integrity. We use certificates as proof of verification between the two keys, indicating that the relationship between devices or users is safe and unchanged. Much of the digital world uses PKI authentication to verify systems, users, and applications. SSL certificates on websites, for example, verify the legitimacy of websites.
To manage the constant interchange of information, certificate authorities (CAs) store, issue, and sign digital certificates, and registration authorities (RAs) verify the identity of entities requesting their digital certificates from the CA. Successive levels of certificates create a hierarchy, building a network of trust between devices, applications, and users.
For additional security, PKI certificates have expiration dates, the lengths of which vary depending on the certificate. Certificate lifespans can range anywhere from one year to one day, even just minutes, with ephemeral workloads. An expired certificate is no longer trusted, making PKI certificate maintenance essential to prevent unexpected system outages. And because this network of trust includes unique keys, an organization may need millions of certificates to authenticate a fully remote, multi-device workforce.
With the average organization surveyed in our 2024 PKI and Digital Trust Report report managing over 81,000 certificates, keeping track of tens of thousands of authentication certificates from multiple CAs manually is nearly impossible.
New developments in technology affect changes in best practices for certificates. Over time, expiration periods have shortened, and key lengths have grown; as quantum computing evolves, new algorithms will be required to maintain business-level security and the digital trust we experience today.
How does PKI-based authentication work?
The basis of PKI is encryption via cryptographic algorithms, turning a simple message into a series of random characters that can only be decrypted with a key. Symmetric encryption uses the same key to encrypt and decrypt a message. This poses a problem for secure communications: how can you communicate with another party without sharing the same key?
To prevent that risk of compromise, researchers developed asymmetric cryptography to securely exchange information between two parties. Public keys allow each party to send encrypted messages that can only be decrypted using the recipient’s private key. The same process can be used to authenticate the legitimacy of entities.
Consider this example
If Alice wants to prove her identity to Bob, she can send him an encrypted message that says, “Hey, Bob! It’s me, Alice.”
First, Alice needs her own key pair, which she can obtain in a certificate via a certificate authority. The CA may require Alice to provide some ID first, such as a driver’s license. Bob also needs a certificate, because Alice can’t craft a special message just for Bob without Bob’s public key. After a quick handshake, Alice can send her message to Bob, who then verifies the authenticity of the sender (Alice) because her certificate was issued by a trusted authority.
Common PKI use cases
Today, PKI authentication is used to protect your activity across the web:
- Secures websites: The familiar lock symbol on websites indicates an SSL/TLS certificate verifying the site’s identity and encrypting communication, protecting your data from eavesdroppers.
- Ensures software and code authenticity: Digital signatures act like tamper-proof seals on code, giving you peace of mind that you’re installing or using the real deal.
- Protects IoT devices: In the ever-expanding world of smart home devices, PKI secures communication between them and cloud services, safeguarding your data, enabling new capabilities like firmware updates, and preventing unauthorized access.
- Granular access control: PKI acts as a gatekeeper for sensitive company resources on intranets and VPNs, restricting access only to authorized users like in a zero trust model.
- Password-free Wi-Fi convenience: Forget complex Wi-Fi passwords! PKI can enable secure access based on device ownership, streamlining the process.
- Encrypts email and data: S/MIME, powered by PKI, encrypts your emails and data, ensuring only intended recipients can access the information.
These are just a few examples of how PKI forms the backbone of trust and security in today’s digital world. PKI certificates protect users, devices, and systems from unauthorized breaches, continuously assuring the veracity of the data exchanged.
PKI takeaways
Public key infrastructure serves as the bedrock of digital trust. As our reliance on interconnected systems grows, so too does the complexity of PKI management. Manually handling millions of certificates is error-prone and hinders innovation.
In comparison, embracing an automated solution helps your organization streamline certificate management, freeing IT and security teams to focus on strategic initiatives. This shift empowers your business to:
- Build a strong foundation: A robust PKI system lays the groundwork for secure communication and fosters trust with customers and partners.
- Enhance agility: Automated PKI management allows for quicker scaling and adaptation to evolving security threats and technological advancements.
- Improve security posture: Automating mundane tasks minimizes human error and ensures certificates remain valid, preventing security vulnerabilities or outages.
PKI is a fundamental technology that can be optimized to meet the demands of the future. By embracing automation and focusing on user-friendly solutions, organizations can use PKI to build a secure and adaptable digital ecosystem. The future of PKI is bright, with trust and security seamlessly woven into the fabric of our interconnected world.
Begin your journey
Is your growing business ready to centralize the management of PKI authentication? Keyfactor can help you implement a powerful, nimble solution. Watch a demo to see the power of automated PKI certificate management.
