Which term best describes the framework for managing public keys and digital certificates?

• A. PKI (Public Key Infrastructure)
• B. Certificate Authority (CA)
• C. Registration Authority (RA)
• D. Certificate Revocation List (CRL)

Answer: (A)

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is the framework that enables the creation, distribution, management, storage, and revocation of digital certificates and the associated public/private keys. It defines the roles, policies, and procedures that establish trust for digital communications, tying together identity verification, certificate issuance, key management, and certificate revocation. Within PKI, entities like the Certificate Authority issue certificates, the Registration Authority handles identity verification, and mechanisms such as the Certificate Revocation List publish certificates that are no longer trusted. These components fit inside the larger system, but PKI is the overarching framework that coordinates all of them to enable secure and trusted electronic interactions.