Public Key Infrastructure

This course provides a detailed introduction to the concepts, technologies, and administrative skills required to design, deploy, and manage a Public Key Infrastructure. Students will learn how PKI enables secure communication, authentication, and data integrity through the use of digital certificates and cryptographic key pairs. Core topics include the components of PKI—Certificate Authorities (CAs), Registration Authorities (RAs), and certificate repositories—along with certificate lifecycle management, revocation mechanisms, and trust models. Learners will gain hands-on experience in configuring PKI services, issuing and managing certificates, implementing SSL/TLS, and integrating PKI with enterprise applications. The course also covers advanced PKI topics such as key escrow and recovery, certificate templates, smart card authentication, and hardware security modules (HSMs). Security best practices, compliance requirements, and integration with identity and access management systems are emphasized throughout. By the end of the course, students will be able to implement and maintain a PKI that supports secure enterprise operations, regulatory compliance, and strong identity assurance. Learning Outcomes Explain PKI concepts, components, and trust models Install, configure, and manage Certificate Authorities Issue, renew, and revoke digital certificates Implement PKI for SSL/TLS, email encryption, and authentication Apply security best practices and integrate PKI with enterprise systems