Public-Key Infrastructure (PKI) is the foundation of the four major elements of digital security: authentication, integrity, confidentiality, and non-repudiation. The idea of a public-key infrastructure has existed for more than a decade, but the need for PKI has intensified over the last few years as the Internet has expanded its reach into business, government, the legal system, the military, and other areas that depend on secure communications. "Understanding PKI, Second Edition, " is both a guide for software engineers involved in PKI development and a readable resource for technical managers responsible for their organization's security policies and investments. It is a comprehensive primer to the latest in PKI technology and how it is used today. Taking a non-vendor-specific approach, this book explains fundamental concepts, examines emerging standards, and discusses deployment considerations and strategies that effect success.This second edition has been updated throughout to incorporate all of the most recent developments in the PKI field. Two new chapters have been added to address the use of PKI in the real world and to explore the technology's future. This new edition also addresses: The X.509 standardPKI for privacyThe emergence of electronic signatures and accompanying legislationNew PKI initiatives supported by the XML standards bodiesIn addition to this specific information, the authors lend their informed opinions on how emerging trends will drive the expansion of PKI. 0672323915B10162002