Encryption/PKI

When data is exchanged electronically, privacy of the data becomes a necessary requirement. The use of data encryption restricts unintended recipients from viewing the data, which are deemed confidential and potentially dangerous if made known to irresponsible parties.

The two methods of encryption used in e-commerce are:

*Private-key encryption (secret-key or symmetric encryption) in which users share a common key.

*Public-key encryption (also known as asymmetric encryption) where different keys are used for encryption and decryption.

The comprehensive system required to provide public-key encryption and digital signature services is known as a public-key infrastructure (PKI). The purpose of a public-key infrastructure is to manage keys and certificates. By managing keys and certificates through a PKI, an organisation establishes and maintains a trustworthy networking environment. A PKI enables the use of security encryption and digital signature services across a wide variety of applications.

Encryptions provides customers a secure identity and a network of trust, protecting the customer from information theft, through secure exchange and storage of digital data. Reducing the customer effort through reliable and simple solutions are the main goals of any encryption software. There are many comprehensive email security encryption solutions available that helps organisations block spam and e-mail viruses, enforce content policies, and protect the network.