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Security Plus PKI - INTRO HOW THE PKI IS USED IN SSL/TLS

Key Points from This Video on How PKI is Used in SSL/TLS:

 

Introduction:

  • SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and TLS (Transport Layer Security) are protocols designed to create secure connections over the internet.
  • PKI (Public Key Infrastructure) plays a critical role in establishing trust, which enables SSL/TLS to secure communication.
  • In this module, we’ll explore how PKI supports SSL/TLS, and in the next video, we’ll cover the SSL/TLS handshake process.

 How PKI Supports SSL/TLS:

  1. The Role of the Certificate Authority (CA):

    • The CA is the cornerstone of SSL/TLS.
    • It holds its own public-private key pair and a self-signed certificate that is trusted by clients (e.g., web browsers).

  2. Server Certificate Creation Process:

    • The server generates its own public and private key pair.
    • It creates a Certificate Signing Request (CSR), which includes:
      • The server’s public key.
      • A digital signature created using the server’s private key.
    • The server submits this signed CSR to the CA.
    • The CA inspects and validates the information in the CSR to verify the server’s legitimacy.

  3. The CA’s Role in Issuing the Certificate:

    • The CA uses the information in the CSR to create a certificate for the server.
    • The CA digitally signs the certificate using its private key, ensuring that the certificate can be trusted by clients.
    • The signed certificate is then provided to the server.

  4. How the Server Uses the Certificate:

    • With the certificate, the server now has everything it needs to prove its identity.
    • When a client (such as a web browser) connects to the server:
      • The server presents its certificate to the client.
      • The client verifies the certificate’s authenticity using the CA’s trusted public key.
    • This process helps establish a secure, trusted connection between the client and the server.

 Key Takeaways for the Security+ Exam:

  1. PKI is essential for establishing trust in SSL/TLS communications.
  2. The Certificate Authority (CA) issues trusted digital certificates to servers.
  3. A Certificate Signing Request (CSR) is submitted by the server to the CA to request a certificate.
  4. The CA signs the server’s certificate with its private key, allowing clients to verify the server’s identity.
  5. This process ensures that data exchanged over SSL/TLS is secure and authenticated.