Key management is the process of administering keys securely, so that they are provided to users where and when they are needed.
A key refers to a numeric value used by an algorithm to alter information, making that information secure and visible only to individuals who have the corresponding key to recover the information.
Most encryption systems use symmetric keys. With symmetric cryptography, it is safe to send encrypted messages without fear of interception (because an interceptor is unlikely to be able to decipher the message); however, the problem remains of how to securely transfer the key to the recipients of a message so that they can decrypt the message.
A major advance in cryptography occurred with the invention of public key cryptography. Public key cryptography removes the need to use the same key for encryption and decryption. With public key cryptography, keys come in pairs: a public and private key. Novell* PKI Services is based on public key cryptography.
Related Topics
Understanding Public Key Cryptography