Deploying a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) for Information Security Programs

The Importance of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) in Information Security

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The MAIN reason for deploying a public key infrastructure (PKI) when implementing an information security program is to:

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A. B. C. D.

B.

The primary purpose of a public key infrastructure (PKI) is to provide strong authentication.

Confidentiality is a function of the session keys distributed by the PKI.

An active directory can use PKI for authentication as well as using other means.

Even though secure sockets layer (SSL) encryption requires keys to authenticate, it is not the main reason for deploying PKI.

The MAIN reason for deploying a public key infrastructure (PKI) when implementing an information security program is to provide a high assurance of identity.

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a system used to manage digital certificates, encryption, and digital signatures. PKI is primarily used to establish trust between parties in a communication and to ensure the integrity and confidentiality of transmitted information.

One of the key features of PKI is its ability to provide a high level of assurance of identity. This is achieved through the use of digital certificates, which are issued by trusted Certificate Authorities (CA) and used to verify the identity of the parties involved in a communication. The certificates contain the public key of the owner, which is used for encryption, and are signed by the CA, which provides assurance that the owner is who they claim to be.

PKI can be used in a variety of security applications, including email encryption, digital signatures, secure web browsing, and secure network access. In each case, PKI provides a mechanism for verifying the identity of the parties involved and ensuring the confidentiality and integrity of the communication.

While PKI can provide encryption and confidentiality of sensitive material (option A), this is not its primary purpose. Option C is incorrect as PKI is not required for the deployment of Active Directory. Option D is also incorrect as SSL encryption can be implemented without PKI, although PKI can enhance the security of SSL implementations.

Therefore, the MAIN reason for deploying a public key infrastructure (PKI) when implementing an information security program is to provide a high assurance of identity.