Which security service does public key infrastructure (PKI) encryption primarily support?

Which security service does public key infrastructure (PKI) encryption primarily support?

• A. Authentication.
• B. Data integrity.
• C. Confidentiality.
• D. Technical non-repudiation.

Answer: (C)

Public key infrastructure (PKI) encryption fundamentally supports confidentiality through the use of asymmetric encryption techniques. In PKI, two keys are generated: a public key, which can be shared openly, and a private key, which is kept secret by the owner. When data is encrypted using the recipient's public key, only their private key can decrypt it, ensuring that only the intended recipient can access the data. This process effectively maintains the confidentiality of the information being transmitted, protecting it from unauthorized access during transmission or storage. While authentication, data integrity, and non-repudiation are also important aspects of PKI, they are not the primary focus of PKI encryption. Authentication ensures that the parties involved are who they say they are, data integrity verifies that the information has not been tampered with during transmission, and technical non-repudiation allows a sender to be unable to deny having sent a message. However, the core function of PKI encryption is to keep data confidential between the communicating parties.

Public key infrastructure (PKI) encryption fundamentally supports confidentiality through the use of asymmetric encryption techniques. In PKI, two keys are generated: a public key, which can be shared openly, and a private key, which is kept secret by the owner. When data is encrypted using the recipient's public key, only their private key can decrypt it, ensuring that only the intended recipient can access the data. This process effectively maintains the confidentiality of the information being transmitted, protecting it from unauthorized access during transmission or storage.

While authentication, data integrity, and non-repudiation are also important aspects of PKI, they are not the primary focus of PKI encryption. Authentication ensures that the parties involved are who they say they are, data integrity verifies that the information has not been tampered with during transmission, and technical non-repudiation allows a sender to be unable to deny having sent a message. However, the core function of PKI encryption is to keep data confidential between the communicating parties.