What role does Secure Socket Layer (SSL) play in PKI?

The role of Secure Socket Layer (SSL) in Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is to provide a secure channel for internet communication. SSL is a protocol that ensures data transmitted over the internet remains secure against eavesdropping and tampering. It achieves this by encrypting the connection between a user's browser and a server, making it very difficult for unauthorized parties to access or modify the information being exchanged.

In the context of PKI, SSL relies on the certificates issued by a trusted Certificate Authority (CA) to verify the identity of the parties involved in a communication. When a browser connects to a secure website, it checks the SSL certificate presented by the server to ensure it is genuine and issued by a trusted CA. This establishes trust and enables a secure, encrypted connection.

While encryption and decryption operations, cryptographic key management, and user authentication are aspects of security and PKI, their specific functions are not the primary role of SSL. Instead, SSL excels as a mechanism for securing communications over networks, ensuring that data privacy and integrity are maintained during transmission.