The benefits of public key infrastructure are plentiful. PKI can increase privacy, whilst reducing the risk of communications being tampered with and ensuring non-repudiation of transactions. Building an argument for PKI is easy, yet there are several ways you can go about building public key infrastructure. The first thing you need to do is decide whether you should outsource PKI or handle it in-house. This post will give you the tools you need to get started.

Companies that wish to have the most control over their public key infrastructure often favour the in-house approach. Nevertheless, this will require a lot of your time and money, especially if you or your employees do not have any PKI training or IT security training. You will also need to invest in software licensing too and you will have to fund any maintenance that is required. Therefore, not only do you have large costs in the beginning, but continual expenses whilst supporting the infrastructure. Many companies think that this is worth it, so they can have ultimate control. Nevertheless, the sheer level of investment involved often prohibits many businesses.

One thing you do not want to do is start building PKI in-house only to discover halfway through that you do not have the capacity to do so. Therefore, you need to assess your operational capacity before making a decision. Your organisation will need to have 24×7 support capability. It is also advisable to make sure you have security policy creation and management expertise in-house, as well as staff that are qualified in running a public certification authority (CA). Otherwise, it is better to outsource to someone that has already undergone extensive PKI training. Visit this website to find out more about the different IT security services that can be outsourced today, as well as other forms of computer support.

In addition to this, other points you need to consider is whether your company is going to be better equipped through core competence or strategic advantage to provide this service. You want to benefit from the best public key infrastructure possible and thus it may be better to outsource even if you do have the capability. Aside from this, you will need to be sure that you are equipped to handle user registration to the required standard. Also, can integrity and security of root signing keys be guaranteed and are physical security measures sufficient? This pretty much covers the main areas you need to take into account when determining whether you have the operational capacity to handle PKI in-house.

If you decide that you would be better off outsourcing PKI then there are a few points to take into account. You should make sure the liability of the supplier is stated clearly from the offset and that the supplier is adequately and continuously insured. It is also important to make sure you are not forced into a one-size fits all model. Your public key infrastructure model will need to be adapted as your business grows.

So there you have it, hopefully, you now have a better idea of whether in-house PKI or outsourcing is the best option for your business. There is no right or wrong answer – it all depends on your company, your resources and your requirements.