Public Key Infrastructure

This is the term used to define the security infrastructure, based on public password cryptography, which permits the management of digital certificates. A certificate is a digital document that identifies the person. The same way the SIN (Social Identification Number) identifies us to the government, or the way in which the Smart Card identifies us when we borrow a library book, the digital certificate unequivocally identifies us in any thematic transaction we make. It is the "digital SIN" that is needed to safely surf the Net.

As a result, in a Public Key Infrastructure all the necessary means to manage the digital certificates in the best effective manner will have to be defined and designed. Most importantly, procedures have to be established to:

• issue digital certificates
• cancel digital certificates
• consult digital certificates