Digi-CA™ Validations

[1] Any network where information is stored electronically needs to be secured. Up to now, the most common way of protecting such data has been through the use of usernames and passwords. This is no longer considered ‘secure’.

A single unsecured transaction could result in significant losses to an organization. This alone makes a strong argument for using Digital Certificates. Digital Certificates remove this risk completely.

Even more compelling business arguments in favour of using Digital Certificates [Digi-IDs™] would include the reduction or removal of paper forms and workflow from an organization. Paper business processes can be computerized and digital signatures replace handwritten signatures using Digi-IDs™ [2]. The savings to organizations as a result of using this technology are well documented.

However, the Digital Certificate is only as good as the security processes and procedures that surround the issuing of that Certificate to the individual, or device. This is where the validations [3] process, and its importance, must be understood thoroughly. If it is easy for one person to assume the identity of another and subsequently, as a result of poor policies and procedures, successfully apply for and receive another person’s Certificate, then the value of that digital identification is effectively useless. On the contrary, a correctly managed Certificate Authority, can bring endless value and cost savings to countless digital and physical environments.

Two-factor authentication, Machine Readable Travel Documents [MRTD [4] ] systems, national ID card systems, web access control, e Passport [5] s, device-to-device authentication and two factor authentication [6], can all benefit from the use of SSL and other Digital Certificates. Integral to all of these environments is the requirement for digital authentication, digital identification, digital encryption, digital stamping and/or digital signing and being able to support these transactions with a legally binding infrastructure. The Digi-SSL™ [7] Certificate is a basic component in each of these environments and the its presence is central to their correct performance. Whilst Digi-CA™ [8] can provide the end user identification required in each of the above cases.