CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) primarily used for?

1. To manage network traffic flow

2. To create and manage digital certificates

3. To provide access control to firewall settings

4. To monitor data breaches on a network

The correct answer is: To create and manage digital certificates

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is primarily used for creating and managing digital certificates, which are essential components in establishing secure communication over networks. Digital certificates serve as a means of verifying the identity of parties involved in electronic transactions. They utilize a combination of asymmetric encryption and digital signatures to authenticate users, systems, and devices. In PKI, a trusted third party known as a Certificate Authority (CA) issues these digital certificates. The CA validates the identity of the certificate requestor before issuing the certificate, ensuring that the public key contained in the certificate genuinely belongs to the entity it claims to represent. This process is critical for enabling secure communications in various applications, such as HTTPS for secure web browsing, email encryption, and secure connections in virtual private networks (VPNs). Managing digital certificates involves not only their issuance but also their renewal and revocation. PKI helps organizations manage the entire lifecycle of certificates, providing a structured and secure environment for cryptographic keys and credentials. This management is vital for maintaining the integrity and security of digital communications within any network.