Public Key Infrastructure

(P-K-I)

A developing system designed to provide security upon which electronic commerce (and other applications) can depend. Don't be confused, PKI is not a standalone application but must be a system built into other applications. "Trust hierarchy" is another name given to a PKI.

The centerpiece of PKI is a digital certificate. The certificate verifies identity and provides the public key portion of an encryption key. This public key is used to establish a secure session for eCommerce or other secure needs.

More Information

• PKI Link List
• PKI Simplified
• PKI Working Group