When considering a Public Key Infrastructure, it appears that the very root of the scheme is authentication. In fact, it doesn’t matter which aspect you look at; authentication is the key to a successful Public Key Infrastructure. From the very beginning of encrypting your message, to a receiver unlocking the message with their key, authentication is needed to encrypt and unlock all messages in a Public Key Infrastructure.
When someone applies for a private and public key, they must first submit proof of who they are to the Certificate Authority. The Certificate Authority contracts with the Registration Authority. The RA will use various strategies, tools, and methods to prove that the subscriber is who he or she says they are.
It is the Registration Authority’s job to validate the credentials of the subscriber, before issuing clearance to the Certificate Authority. Once those clearances have been given, the Certificate Authority will issue a Digital Certificate and the subscriber receives his or her private and public key. Without proper authentication, provided by the Registration Authority and given to the Certificate Authority, the digital certificate would not be issued.
Once a subscriber receives his or her private and public key and their digital certificate, they may now begin sending encrypted messages. Again, authentication is the key that makes the PKI scheme function. If you do not have an authentic private or public key (suppose your digital certificate was revoked or put on hold status) you will not be able to encrypt or decrypt any messages.
When someone receives an encrypted message, they must have an authentic private or public key to decrypt the message. This shows that the entire foundation as well as the successful implementation of a PKI scheme is founded on authentication.
If you have successfully obtained a digital certificate, you will be able to use that certificate for your company’s protection. Your digital certificate shows who you are and validates your identity. Authentication is the main purpose of obtaining and using a digital certificate since it is the proof of your identity and credentials. If your digital certificate becomes invalid, visitors to your website will instantly know that there is something wrong.
As soon as your digital certificate becomes suspended, for whatever reason, your authentication is gone, and so are your credentials. This means that you will lose a significant amount of business, as customers will not trust that you are who you claim to be. Authentication also plays a significant role in the use of your digital signature as well. Authentication is critical to every business organization’s success.
The process of encryption is based on the ancient study of cryptography. The basic underlying foundation is situated upon having a key. The key is the tool that unlocks or opens the encrypted code. Without having an authentic key you can neither encrypt or decrypt (lock or unlock) messages. Authentication is vital to ensuring that you have the power to take sensitive data and messages and transmit them across the Internet.