Public key cryptography

Public key cryptography

Public key cryptography is a form of encryption that uses two keys, which include the public and private keys. It is referred to as the most secure form of encryption and helps in securing data and information from unauthorized access. This form of encryption has a public key that is most shared and can be accessed by anyone who wants to share information. The private key, however, is stored and known by the owner of data. Data is converted into a random form that is unreadable, thus making it hard for those who don’t have the key to making sense out of the data or information until they have another key that is private to be able to see the content of data.

One key which is the public is used in the encryption process whereby data is converted into cipher, which is the unreadable form, and the private key is used in the decryption process. The two keys are mathematically related; however, they are not the same. The public key is freely available, making it easy for the users to encrypt data and verify the digital signatures. In contrast, the private key is only accessed by the owner, who can decrypt the message. The public-key encryption can be applied in business, and this is due to its ability to secure the business at all times. The security advantages include aiding the authentication process whereby he identifies the user is confirmed by the system. It ensures that data integrity is always guaranteed whereby data is accessed and modified by those who have the private key. No-repudiation is another application whereby it provides that signatures can only be applied by those who have the key; thus, the owner cannot deny responsibility.