What is the main advantage of using public key infrastructure in communications?

What is the main advantage of using public key infrastructure in communications?

• A. Increased speed of transactions
• B. Enhanced tracking of messages
• C. Improved security through encryption
• D. Lower cost of network resources

Answer: (C)

The primary advantage of using public key infrastructure (PKI) in communications lies in its ability to enhance security through encryption. PKI employs a pair of cryptographic keys—a public key that can be shared openly and a private key that is kept secret. This system allows for secure data transmission, as messages encrypted with the receiver's public key can only be decrypted by the corresponding private key. This ensures that even if the message is intercepted, only the intended recipient can access its content, thereby maintaining confidentiality. Additionally, PKI supports digital signatures, which provide authentication of the sender and verify the integrity of the message, ensuring that it has not been altered in transit. This comprehensive approach to security makes PKI a preferred choice for communicating sensitive information across various platforms, further solidifying its role in enhancing overall communication security. While aspects like transaction speed, message tracking, and cost efficiency are important in network management and operations, they are not the primary focus or advantage of PKI, which is specifically designed to provide a strong framework for securing communications.

The primary advantage of using public key infrastructure (PKI) in communications lies in its ability to enhance security through encryption. PKI employs a pair of cryptographic keys—a public key that can be shared openly and a private key that is kept secret. This system allows for secure data transmission, as messages encrypted with the receiver's public key can only be decrypted by the corresponding private key. This ensures that even if the message is intercepted, only the intended recipient can access its content, thereby maintaining confidentiality.

Additionally, PKI supports digital signatures, which provide authentication of the sender and verify the integrity of the message, ensuring that it has not been altered in transit. This comprehensive approach to security makes PKI a preferred choice for communicating sensitive information across various platforms, further solidifying its role in enhancing overall communication security.

While aspects like transaction speed, message tracking, and cost efficiency are important in network management and operations, they are not the primary focus or advantage of PKI, which is specifically designed to provide a strong framework for securing communications.