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PKI Interview Questions and Answers

The document outlines key concepts and practices related to Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), including the roles of Certificate Authorities (CA), Registration Authorities (RA), and the importance of certificate management. It discusses various components such as Certificate Revocation Lists (CRL), Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP), and security implications of using expired certificates. Additionally, it highlights the significance of key management, certificate transparency, and legal compliance in PKI implementation.

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131 views2 pages

PKI Interview Questions and Answers

The document outlines key concepts and practices related to Public Key Infrastructure (PKI), including the roles of Certificate Authorities (CA), Registration Authorities (RA), and the importance of certificate management. It discusses various components such as Certificate Revocation Lists (CRL), Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP), and security implications of using expired certificates. Additionally, it highlights the significance of key management, certificate transparency, and legal compliance in PKI implementation.

Uploaded by

goyan39832
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as TXT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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PKI Interview Questions and Answers

1. Explain the purpose of a Certificate Authority (CA).


A Certificate Authority (CA) is a trusted entity in a Public Key Infrastructure
(PKI) that issues digital certificates to authenticate identities and enable secure
communication. The CA’s main functions include issuing certificates, revoking them
if compromised, maintaining a repository of certificates, and ensuring trust
through a hierarchical chain of trust.

2. What is a Certificate Revocation List (CRL) and how is it used?


A Certificate Revocation List (CRL) is a list of digital certificates revoked by
the issuing CA before their expiration. It ensures entities can verify certificate
validity and avoid using untrustworthy certificates. CRLs are used when a private
key is compromised or a certificate is no longer needed. They contain serial
numbers of revoked certificates, revocation dates, and reasons for revocation.

3. How does Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) differ from CRL?
Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP) and CRL both determine the revocation
status of digital certificates but differ in operation. OCSP provides real-time
status updates by querying an OCSP responder, while CRLs are periodically published
lists. OCSP requires less bandwidth and offers immediate updates, whereas CRLs can
be large and less efficient.

4. Explain the concept of a trust chain.


A trust chain in PKI is a hierarchical structure that establishes trust through a
series of certificates, starting with a root certificate. Each certificate in the
chain is signed by the one above it, creating a chain of trust back to the root.
This ensures a certificate presented by an entity can be trusted.

5. Describe the role of a Registration Authority (RA).


A Registration Authority (RA) in PKI authenticates the identity of entities
requesting digital certificates. It acts as an intermediary between the end user
and the CA. The RA verifies identities, approves or rejects requests, manages
certificate lifecycles, and enforces policy adherence.

6. What is a wildcard certificate and when would you use one?


A wildcard certificate secures a domain and all its subdomains, simplifying
management by using a single certificate. It’s useful for multiple subdomains,
frequent changes, and reducing administrative overhead.

7. What are the security implications of using expired certificates?


Using expired certificates in PKI can lead to loss of trust, vulnerability to
attacks, compliance issues, data risks, and operational disruptions. Expired
certificates are not trusted, can be exploited for attacks, and may cause service
interruptions.

8. Describe how HSMs (Hardware Security Modules) are used.


HSMs (Hardware Security Modules) manage and protect cryptographic keys in a secure
environment. They perform cryptographic operations securely, ensuring keys never
leave the HSM. HSMs provide protection against unauthorized access and support
compliance with security standards.

9. What are the potential vulnerabilities in a PKI system and how can they be
mitigated?
Potential vulnerabilities in PKI include key compromise, CA compromise, man-in-the-
middle attacks, revocation issues, and algorithm weaknesses. Mitigation strategies
involve strong key management, CA security, robust certificate validation, regular
updates, and effective revocation management.

10. Explain the concept of certificate pinning and its benefits.


Certificate pinning involves storing a server’s certificate or public key within a
client application. It enhances security by ensuring the client communicates with
the intended server, even if a CA is compromised.

11. Explain the importance of key management practices in PKI.


Key management practices in PKI are essential for security. They include secure key
generation, distribution, storage, rotation, and destruction.

12. What is Certificate Transparency and why is it important?


Certificate Transparency (CT) is a security standard requiring CAs to log all
issued certificates in publicly accessible logs. This transparency helps detect and
respond to certificate misissuance, maintaining trust in the digital ecosystem.

13. Describe the key standards and protocols used in PKI.


PKI relies on standards and protocols like X.509 for certificate structure, SSL/TLS
for secure connections, OCSP for certificate status, CRLs for revocation, PKCS for
cryptography, and LDAP for directory services.

14. What is the role of timestamping in PKI?


Timestamping in PKI provides proof of when a digital signature was created,
ensuring non-repudiation, long-term validation, and data integrity. A trusted
timestamp authority (TSA) issues timestamps, which are attached to documents for
verification.

15. Discuss the legal and compliance aspects of implementing PKI.


Implementing PKI involves legal and compliance considerations, including regulatory
requirements, data protection laws, industry standards, certificate policies, and
audits. Organizations must ensure their PKI implementation adheres to legal and
regulatory standards.

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