What Is a PKI Certificate? How To Get One For Yourself

When the internet was first introduced to the world of computers, it was a groundbreaking idea for transmitting data quickly from one place to another. Over time, people became concerned about protecting data transmitted through the internet, but it was thought to be a simple problem to solve.

However, when citizens began to use the internet for commerce to share confidential details such as credit card information, banking details, income data, and so on, the need for such data protection became more critical. That’s when a PKI certificate became a must-have document.

Are you wondering what a PKI certificate is? How can it protect clients and servers? Read on to know everything about the PKI certificate.

What is a PKI certificate?

Public Key Infrastructure certificates are data structures that provide sensitive details regarding their particular certificate applicants. A PKI certificate is an electronically issued document similar to an actual identification card or passport in the digital domain. The certificate is a digital identity that one can trust. When interacting across unknown sources, it is used to recognize and authenticate individuals, servers, and items. They usually use mathematical models to:

• Authenticate servers, apps, portals, email clients, app creators, and publishers.
• Encrypt and decrypt data in transit—for example, documents and archives on servers.
• Stabilize internet data transfer, including e-commerce transactions.
• Attach devices, files, and emails with digital signatures.

With so many uses and benefits of PKI, it is no surprise that the PKI industry is expected to grow to 3.6 billion USD by the end of 2024.

What are various types of PKI certificates?

There are a few types of PKI certificates, and you must understand the use of each one before determining where to get it for your website. Here is a list of the PKI certificates:

1.   SSL/TLS Certificates

When it comes to PKI certificates, SSL/TLS is the most commonly mentioned certificate. Website owners use it to encrypt contact between a portal (server) and a recipient (browser). They use PKI technologies to help with identity protection and authentication.

When you request an SSL certificate, the PKI certification authority assigns an SSL/TLS credential to the hostname (website’s address or IP address). Then the authority adds the digital stamp to it and signs the certification with its domain or, more generally, its intermediate root certificate and completes the authentication process.

2.   Code Signing Certificates/Software Signing Certificate

A code signing credential enables you to sign code using a personal and public key scheme identical to SSL and SSH. When a certificate is demanded, a public and a private key pair are created. The private key is never submitted to the certificate supplier and remains on the applicant’s phone. The public key is sent chiefly along with the credential query to the vendor, who then issues the certificate.

A certificate is a document that includes documents that fully recognize an object and is provided by a Certification Authority (CA) after the entity’s identification has been validated.

3.   Email Signing Certificates

An email digital signature certification, also known as a S/MIME certificate, is a public key infrastructure (PKI) mechanism that improves email protection by allowing you to sign and encode your emails securely. It encrypts and decrypts email messages and attachments using asymmetric keys from public-key cryptography.

As a result, an email signing certificate protects data in motion as well as at rest. The user would immediately realize whether an email had been changed or tampered with thanks to its hashing feature. Email attacks that utilize spying and email spoofing — two prevalent email phishing tactics — would be protected by an email signature certificate.

4.   Document Signing Certificates

Any organization, despite the size, must submit documentation to its clients. This documentation may include a fee, statement, brochure, prospectus, annual report, and so on. They do this by the use of email or other networks. It is vital to safeguard the integrity of these records since they contain sensitive material. It is essential for the sake of user confidence that these records be transferred in a safe setting. A ‘Document Signing Certificate’ is needed to meet this pressing need.

How to get a PKI certificate for your company?

As previously mentioned, a website owner must receive a certificate from a Certificate Authority or CA to have PKI certification. Numerous vendors have established themselves as CAs. Before granting you a certificate, they need you to demonstrate the possession of your website in any manner.

For example, suppose you’re attempting to purchase an SSL credential for a website at domain.com. In that case, you may need to submit an email to the CA from abc@domain.com, which is an account restricted to those with managerial control over the domain name. You may then upload the credential to your web server after you have obtained it. Some of the leading CAs that can get you any of the PKI certificates are GoDaddy, Comodo SSL, DigiCert.

In conclusion

The PKI Certificates provide a sense of trust between two unknown parties. It is essential for businesses, especially those who rely more on the internet, to get themselves certified. It not only eliminates any kind of threat to your business but also provides the base it needs to be deemed as an acceptable enterprise. Before you get yourself certified, remember to validate the authenticity of the concerned certificate company.