What does PKI stand for?

PKI stands for Public Key Infrastructure. This term refers to a framework that manages digital certificates and public-key encryption, allowing secure communication over networks. PKI facilitates various functions, such as authentication, email security, and securing transactions, by leveraging a combination of hardware, software, policies, and standards to create a secure environment.

In this framework, digital certificates are issued to users or devices, which prove their identity through a trusted third-party authority, known as a Certificate Authority (CA). These digital certificates use a pair of cryptographic keys: a public key, which is shared widely, and a private key, which is kept confidential by the user. Through this structure, PKI plays a critical role in ensuring data integrity, confidentiality, and authentication in communications.

The other options do not accurately reflect the established terminology related to key management and security practices in digital communications. For example, Private Key Infrastructure and Personal Key Integration are not recognized terms in cryptographic practices, while Public Key Integration is not used to describe the broader framework that PKI encompasses.