PKI is an abbreviation for Public Key Infrastructure. It is a comprehensive system that provides digital signature services and public-key encryption. The purpose of a PKI is to manage certificates and keys. When an organization opts for public key infrastructure to manage keys and certificates, it establishes a reliable and safe networking environment. Furthermore, with PKI, many applications can take advantage of stipulated services.
What Makes PKI Inevitable For Cloud Computing
With the prevalence of cloud computing, PKI technology heralds a new era of renaissance, where computer-to-computer communications are more secure than ever before. PKI can be thought of as an arrangement directly responsible for handling issues like public key assignments and digital certificates. These digital certificates are issued by a certification authority, which is part of the process followed by the PKI. This process also involves the binding of validated user identities to public keys.
User identities are either verified by a certification authority or an individual registration authority is used. Once the user identity is issued, the certification authority uses a unique digital signature to seal and stamp the certificate. Since secure online network communications and online transactions are the most sought-after features cloud computing is expected to provide, it can only be made possible with PKI. Furthermore, PKI also provides a certificate holder authentication of his business identity.
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How It Reduces Web Vulnerability
There are several services that PKI is expected to provide to ensure its effective implementation.PKI is valuable for cloud computing because it allows digital signatures and encryption in multiple applications. At the same time, transparency is the most significant constraint on a public-key infrastructure, which establishes that cloud computing can be used optimally only when the users are not required to understand how the PKI manages the keys and services. A handful of areas that come under the jurisdiction of PKI for providing the desired services of certificate and public key management are outlined below:
- · Issuance of key certificates;
- · Repository of certificates;
- · Revocation of certificates;
- · Support for backup and recovery;
- · Assurance of nonrepudiation of digital certificates;
- · Automatic update of certificates and keys;
- · Cross-certification service.
How It Works To Build Trust on Clouds
PKI plays a vital role in building trust in cloud computing services. Some aspects that PKI brings to cloud computing are briefly listed below:
· Security
When confidential documents are to be communicated over the cloud, Security is of paramount importance. Since PKI ensures secured signing using digital signatures with a digital ID that can be accessed exclusively by that user, it implies comprehensive protection.
· Reliability
The reliability offered by a service is a telltale sign of its capabilities, seamless implementation, and high level of Security. With PKI, the quality, monitoring, and development reviews align with cloud service, hence substantiating Reliability.
· Open communications
Successful communication is directly associated with trust, and cloud services must respond to and acknowledge the digitally aware end-users in the desired manner. This is what PKI offers. With several communication methods available, the responsive and prompt communication PKI streamlines make the real difference.