What are Certification Authorities responsible for?

Certification Authorities (CAs) play a pivotal role in the realm of digital security, primarily by creating digital certificates and establishing policies for vetting entities that request these certificates. Digital certificates are essential for establishing a secure communication channel on the internet, as they verify the identity of the parties involved in online transactions.

When a CA issues a digital certificate, it essentially vouches for the identity of the organization or individual that holds the certificate. This process involves rigorous vetting procedures to ensure that the requester is legitimate and deserves the trust that is granted through the issuance of the certificate. By establishing clear policies for this vetting process, CAs help maintain the integrity of the digital certificate ecosystem, which is crucial for secure communications, e-commerce, and data protection.

Other roles such as providing IT support, conducting security audits, or implementing software updates address different aspects of IT and security management but do not fall under the specific responsibilities of Certification Authorities. CAs focus mainly on the identity verification and trust aspect of online interactions, making their role distinct and essential in maintaining secure systems and communications.