Public-Key Infrastructure

A public-key infrastructure (PKI) consists of all the people, processes, and technology that are required to apply security measures using public-key cryptography within an organization. The PKI usually includes digital certificates, a certificate server for issuing the certificates, and an administrator to manage the issuance, revocation, and renewal of the certificates.

A PKI can include many other components in addition to digital certificates, such as Smart Cards for user authentication and encryption. The PKI also relies upon industry standards such as X.500, X.509, and Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP).