Digital Certificates connect a verified identity to a public key, helping people and systems confirm whom they are communicating with. The Registration Authority accepts certificate requests and verifies identities before approval. These Registration Authority responsibilities help ensure that certificates are not issued to unverified applicants. After verification, the Certificate Authority issues, signs, revokes, and manages certificates.
PKCS #12 is a secure file format commonly used to store and transport a Digital Certificate together with its private key and related certificate information. Because the private key is sensitive, a PKCS #12 file is normally protected with a password. This format makes it easier to move a complete digital identity between approved systems while keeping its certificate materials together.
A Certificate Revocation List, or CRL, publishes a list of revoked certificates that should no longer be trusted. The Online Certificate Status Protocol, or OCSP, checks the current status of one certificate on demand. OCSP often provides the fastest validation of one certificate because a system can request its current status directly instead of downloading and searching an entire CRL.
Think Positive Cyber 
Leave a comment