What is the main responsibility of a Trusted Agent in PKI?

The primary responsibility of a Trusted Agent within a Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) system is to validate subscriber identities. This role is critical because the integrity and security of the PKI depend significantly on ensuring that individuals or entities requesting digital certificates are correctly identified and verified. Trusted Agents act as intermediaries who collect and verify the necessary identification information and documents from subscribers before they can be issued with cryptographic credentials. This validation process helps to prevent unauthorized access and ensures that only legitimate users are granted digital certificates, which are vital for secure communication and transactions.

In contrast, while other responsibilities such as distributing tokens, creating encryption policies, and managing PKI databases are important in the broader context of PKI administration, they do not define the core function of a Trusted Agent. The focus on identity validation aligns with the foundational goal of PKI: to establish trust in the digital identity of users and entities.