What does PKI stand for in cybersecurity?

PKI stands for Public Key Infrastructure in cybersecurity. It is a framework that manages digital certificates and public-key encryption to secure communications and establish trust over networks. PKI supports the distribution and identification of public encryption keys, enabling users to securely exchange data over the internet.

The significance of PKI lies in its ability to provide a means for authentication, ensuring that the parties involved in communications are who they claim to be. It establishes a trust hierarchy through a system of certificate authorities (CAs) that issue digital certificates, enabling users to verify the ownership of public keys.

In the context of cybersecurity, PKI plays a crucial role in securing email, enabling secure web browsing (HTTPS), and facilitating secure transactions. It underpins many encryption protocols, thus ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and authenticity in various online communications and transactions.