Deploying a Public Key Infrastructure

Securing a network has become the top priority and the challenge for many organizations. There should be a proper security solution that guarantees the secure data communications over the networks. Public Key Infrastructure or PKI enables the users to securely transmit the data in the computer networks.  It is a set of services that provide secure infrastructure for securing applications.

PKI provides the strong security, easy administration, reduced management and data integrity over the internet, intranet, extranet and network applications. The implementation and the maintenance of the PKI requires through planning.  PKI is mostly used for the encrypted email communications and the in the VPN tunnels.  Windows 2000 was the first operating system that was shipped with the PKI components.

PKI provides authentication, message integrity and confidentiality in the communications. The other applications and services that use PKI are Microsoft Exchange Server, Microsoft Internet Explorer, Internet Information Server and Outlook Express. The deployment of the PKI requires some appropriate Certification Authority (CA) software.  Some of them are mentioned below.

• Windows 2000, 2003 and 2008 Servers.
• Global Sign
• Entrust
• OpenTrust
• Cryptopmathic
• Red Hat Certification System
• Safe Layer

PKI consist of digital certificates and CA servers and it provides the following services to the computer applications.

• Certification Repository
• Certificate Authority
• Certificate Revocation
• Client API
• Automatic Key Recertification
• Time Stamping

The PKI and other security related services are built in the Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008.  PKI provides digital signatures and message encryption to provide the enhanced security.