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What is a digital certificate and why it's important?
Learn how digital certificates improve cybersecurity and bolster the authenticity of cloud-based digital signatures.
A digital certificate, also referred to as an identity certificate or public key certificate, is used to:
- Secure digital signatures, devices, servers websites, software, email, and code
- Safeguard against unauthorized users and devices accessing networks
- Ensure protection against tampering, including man-in-the-middle attacks
What is a digital certificate?
A digital certificate is an electronic credential that confirms the identity of a person or organization online. Issued by a trust service provider (TSP) or certification authority, a digital certificate helps ensure that when a person sends information like a digital signature to someone else, the receiver of that information knows they can trust it.
Digital certificate authentication is helpful to organizations as it makes sure that only verified users and devices can access their networks. Another frequent use of digital certificates is to establish a website’s legitimacy to a web browser, commonly known as an SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) certificate.
Each digital certificate holds identifiable details, such as the name of the user, their company or department, and a device’s IP address or serial number. The certificate also includes the holder's public key, which must be matched with a corresponding private key to confirm its validity. Certificate authorities (CAs) issue public key certificates and authenticate the identity of the user or device by digitally signing them.
Why is a digital certificate important?
Put simply, digital certificates improve cybersecurity.
Less simply, a person without a digital certificate can protect a message with public key cryptography (also known as a public key certificate), which is an encryption algorithm that allows the message sender to encrypt the message with a private key (a long number). The receiver can then decipher the message with a public key placed in a central site. Public keys are managed by the public key infrastructure (PKI) to allow for secure traffic.
However, a malicious third party can intercept the message, alter it, and disguise themselves as the sender with a fake key pair. If that third party poses as the original sender, the receiver of the information has no way of detecting the true digital identity of the sender or the nature of the original message.
Digital certificates solve this authentication problem with the help of certificate authorities (CAs) and other trust service providers (TSPs).
There are many benefits of using a digital certificate especially in today's digital age, where cybersecurity has been called out as one of the top priorities by even the Department of Homeland Security. The most common benefits of digital certificates are:
- Trusted authentication: Digital certificates provide confidence that the person or entity you're communicating with is legitimate, confirming the identity of the recipient and ensuring the message is delivered securely to the intended party.
- Secure communications: Digital certificates ensure that both internal and external communications remain confidential while safeguarding data integrity. They also enforce access control, guaranteeing that only the intended recipient can view and access the information.
- Reliable sourcing: Since digital certificates are issued by trusted, thoroughly vetted Certificate Authorities (CAs), they are highly reliable and difficult to forge or manipulate.
- Scalable use: Whether for individuals, small businesses, or large organizations, digital certificates can be applied across different platforms. They can be quickly issued, renewed, or revoked, and are capable of securing various devices, all while being managed from a centralized system.
- Public trust: Using digital certificates helps demonstrate the authenticity of websites, documents, and emails. They reassure users and clients that a company or individual is trustworthy, committed to privacy, and prioritizes security.
3 types of digital certificates
Both TSPs and CAs create digital certificates by verifying the details of a person’s or organization’s identity and requiring a personal PIN and other verification steps. They ensure that the certificate holder can attach their digital certificate to their public key and send it directly to the receiver instead of to a central site, eliminating the danger of what’s known as a “man in the middle” attack.
Adobe Acrobat works with several different TSPs, so you can choose the provider that gives you the type of certificate that best suits your compliance outcome or legal outcome needs. They can issue you a certificate-based digital ID so that your digital signature always comes with a credential.
In addition to there being 2 types of authorities, there are also 3 common types of digital certificates, Transport Layer Security certificates, client certificates and code signing certificates
1. TLS/SSL Certificate
A TLS/SSL certificate is installed on a server—whether it’s a web, mail, or application server—to ensure encrypted and private communication with clients. It authenticates the server, enabling secure data exchange with connected clients. When a site uses a TLS/SSL certificate, you'll notice the HTTPS prefix in the web address, indicating a secure connection. These certificates can be Domain Validated (DV), Organization Validated (OV) or Extended Validation (EV), the latter being the most rigid.
2. Client Digital Certificate
A client certificate acts as a digital ID that authenticates one user to another or one device to another. A common use is in email communication, where a sender's digital signature is verified by the recipient. Client certificates also enable users to securely access restricted databases or systems, providing an additional layer of authentication.
3. Code Signing Certificate
A code signing certificate is used to verify that software or files downloaded from the internet are legitimate and haven’t been altered. The developer or publisher digitally signs the software to assure users of its authenticity. This is particularly important for software distributed through third-party platforms, as it guarantees the integrity of the files.
When you may want to use a digital certificate.
Whenever you need to share personal or confidential information with someone on the internet, you can encrypt the message and use a digital certificate to make sure it’s not tampered with en route. If you do business in Europe, you may need to use certificate-based signatures to comply with eIDAS signature regulation. Also, pharmaceutical companies often must use these types of signatures to comply with the SAFE BioPharma industry standard.
Digital certificates can help you as a consumer as well. Before you share your credit card information with a website, you can check their certificate to ensure that their identity has been verified by a trusted CA. To do this, just click the lock to the left of the URL at the top of your web browser. Click Certificate in the menu to see the details.
Frequently asked questions about digital certificates
What are the most common digital certificates?
One of the most frequently used formats is the X.509 certificate. This includes the public key, signature, and other identifying information about both the sender and the CA who issued the certificate.
One type of X.509 is the SSL/TLS certificate, which secures websites using the HTTPS protocol. SSL stands for “secure socket layer,” and it’s the precursor to TLS, which stands for “transport layer security.” Both of these work by creating an authentication process known as a “handshake” between two devices to establish that they’re both legitimate.
These certificates include a public key, the registered domain name, the name of the business, and identifying information about the CA. As long as the certificate is signed by a trusted CA (there are about 50 of them around the world), you can feel secure in your level of protection.
How can I use Acrobat with a digital certificate?
With Acrobat, a signer uses a digital identity certificate provided by a trust service provider. The signer’s certificate is encrypted and bound to the document with the signer’s unique private key.
During the validation process, the reciprocal public key is extracted from the signature and used to authenticate the signer’s identity through the TSP and to ensure that no changes were made to the document since it was signed.
The audit trail of a document signed with a certificate-based digital signature provides further information, such as the signer’s IP address or geolocation at the time the document was signed.
What is the difference between a digital certificate and a digital signature?
A digital certificate is an electronic document used to authenticate the identity of a user or device and facilitate encrypted communication. On the other hand, a digital signature is a cryptographic technique that uses a numerical value to confirm the authenticity and verify the identity of the sender. Digital signatures are usually attached to documents or emails using a unique cryptographic key. The signatures are hashed, and when the recipient receives the signed documents, they perform the same hash function to ensure the information is genuine and has not been modified during transmission.
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