Computing Dictionary
Public Key Infrastructure definition
cryptography, communications (PKI) A system of
public key encryption using
digital certificates from
Certificate Authorities and other registration authorities that verify and authenticate the validity of each party involved in an electronic transaction.
PKIs are currently evolving and there is no single PKI nor even a single agreed-upon standard for setting up a PKI. However, nearly everyone agrees that reliable PKIs are necessary before
electronic commerce can become widespread.
US DOD PKI (http://www-pki.itsi.disa.mil/).
US NIST PKI (http://csrc.ncsl.nist.gov/pki/).
IETF PKIX Working Group (http://imc.org/ietf-pkix/).
(1999-11-30)