{"id":3709,"date":"2025-05-23T16:22:38","date_gmt":"2025-05-23T16:22:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sectigostore.com\/blog\/?p=3709"},"modified":"2025-06-12T14:55:37","modified_gmt":"2025-06-12T14:55:37","slug":"practical-pki-uses-and-applications","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sectigostore.com\/blog\/practical-pki-uses-and-applications\/","title":{"rendered":"8 Practical PKI Uses & Applications That Drive SMB Security"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

More than half of the breaches<\/a> investigated by Verizon in its 2025 DBIR report stemmed from system intrusions. Discover which PKI use cases every small and mid-size business can implement to minimize these risks (and others)  <\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In our previous article<\/a>, we introduced you to public key infrastructure (PKI)<\/a>, a framework that enables organizations of all sizes to prevent cybersecurity threats and minimize the risk of attacks. From securing emails and website data to adding layers of security to your software and network devices, there are many PKI uses and applications that every small and mid-size business should know.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, we’ll explore eight specific PKI use cases demonstrating how small and mid-size businesses can use this technology to their advantage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Editor\u2019s Note:<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0This article is the second in a three-part series that dives into the details of PKI technology. This series explores the roles of PKI technology in IT security<\/a>, examples of PKI uses and applications<\/a> small and mid-size businesses can enjoy, and answers the question “how does PKI work?<\/a><\/em>“<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8 Examples of PKI Uses and How They\u2019ll Benefit Your Organization<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

PKI uses digital certificates and cryptographic key pairs<\/a> to secure public and private resources. Although people typically associate it with SSL\/TLS certificates, PKI is a set of versatile tools and a framework that can do much more than \u201cjust\u201d protect websites and applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some PKI uses that can help you turn your cybersecurity plans into action, all without breaking the bank.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. SSL Certificates Secure Your Website Data & Transactions<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

It seems only fitting to start with one of the most obvious and common PKI uses: the secure socket layer\/transport layer security (SSL\/TLS) certificate<\/a>. This type of digital certificate can be used to secure internal and external site resources \u2014 for example, public-facing websites and web apps, as well as intranet sites and web apps. The difference here boils down to whether you\u2019re using a public certificate or one from an internally trusted certification authority (i.e., private PKI).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you install an SSL\/TLS certificate on your public-facing web server, PKI uses it together with the related key pair to:<\/p>\n\n\n\n