What is public key infrastructure (PKI)?

Public key infrastructure (PKI) is the framework used to issue, maintain, and revoke public-key certificates — the system that lets parties verify identities and exchange data securely using digital certificates.

What it means

Per NIST, PKI is the framework that creates, manages, and revokes public-key certificates. Those certificates bind an identity to a cryptographic key, which is what makes secure websites (HTTPS), signed code, and encrypted email trustworthy. PKI concepts appear in security, identity, and infrastructure roles.

Sources

• National Institute of Standards and Technology — NIST CSRC Glossary: https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary

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