The 5 most Frequently Asked Questions about Certificate Authority (CA)

We have compiled here 5 of the most frequently asked questions about Certificate Authority, and we have given them answers:

A certificate authority (CA), also sometimes referred to as a certification authority, is s a trusted entity that issues Digital Certificates and public-private key pairs. The role of the Certificate Authority (CA) is to guarantee that the individual granted the unique certificate is, in fact, who he or she claims to be. A digital certificate provides:

• Authentication, by serving as a credential to validate the identity of the entity that it is issued to.
• Encryption, for secure communication over insecure networks such as the Internet.
• Integrity of documents signed with the certificate so that they cannot be altered by a third party in transit.

A Certification Authority (CA) provides services such as the publication of certificates, lists of revoked certificates, verification of validity of certificates, etc. The Certificate Authority (CA) verifies that the owner of the certificate is who he says he is. A Certificate Authority (CA) can be a trusted third party which is responsible for physically verifying the legitimacy of the identity of an individual or organization before issuing a digital certificate.

Certificate Authority (CA) is a critical security service in a network. A Certificate Authority (CA) performs the following functions.

• Verifies the identity: The Certificate Authority (CA) must validate the identity of the entity who requested a digital certificate before issuing it.
• Issues digital certificates: Once the validation process is over, the Certificate Authority (CA) issues the digital certificate to the entity who requested it. Digital certificates can be used for encryption, code signing, authentication etc.
• Maintains Certificate Revocation List (CRL): The Certificate Authority maintains Certificate Revocation List (CRL). A certificate revocation list (CRL) is a list of digital certificates which are no longer valid and have been revoked and therefore should not be relied by anyone.

A Certification Authority (CA) is a trusted entity responsible for issuing and revoking digital certificates used in electronic transactions and signatures. This trust is achieved thanks to the figure of the Certification Authority (CA), which acts as an intervening party in the relationship between companies or companies and individuals. Let’s see what some of the certificates that a Certificate Authority (CA) can issue or revoke:

• Natural Person Certificates, It regulates the relationship between the owner and the Public Administrations, guaranteeing his identity. 
• Certificate for Companies, issued to companies or organizations for the signing of any electronic document or stamp in an automated way on behalf of the organization.
• Certificates for Public Administration, they validate the legal identity and signature of the holder, authorizing electronic access to public services.
• Component Certificates, they confirm the identity of the subscriber, company or entity.

• Consolidated Trust through Qualified Digital Certificates: Create your own certificates and qualified digital seals, with the highest degree of security and legal recognition through the PKI platform and Certification Authority (CA), developed in accordance with the eIDAS Regulation.

• Reduced Costs with Your Own Digital Certificates: By issuing their certificates and managing them through a digital certificate management solution, organizations can significantly reduce costs. Also, for convenience, the certificate management process is automated.

• Faster Sales with Your Own Registration Authority: With Certification Authority (CA), organizations can become a Registration Authority (RA) to issue, control, manage and revoke their own digital certificates for their employees, suppliers, and customers. This allows them to sell their products online with all legal guarantees and close sales faster than before with complete autonomy.

Digital Certificates are documents issued by Certification Authorities such as vinCAsign. They allow citizens or companies to identify themselves to third parties, sign documents with an electronic signature and carry out secure telematic procedures in compliance with European regulations such as eIDAS and test the highest levels of security with full legal guarantees.  The vinCAsign Certification Authority (CA) is regulated by various certifications that guarantee its safety and legal compliance and always in accordance with all the legislation and the corresponding certifications. However, as established by the European Regulation, trustworthy electronic service providers can be qualified or unqualified. To be a qualified provider of electronic trust services, qualified electronic trust services must be provided and recognized as such.

If you are interested in knowing more about Certificate Authority and do not see your question answered in this post, we encourage you to contact us. We will be happy to help you.

Also, ask for our Digital Certicate’s solutions demo to see for yourself how this all-in-one digital identity solution can help your organization. Start enjoying the benefits it brings.

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