We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Internet

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What are Key Servers?

M. McGee
By
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 2,538
Share

Key servers are computers that send users the public half of a cryptographic key. In cryptography, a key is used to take encoded information and turn it back into a readable message. Many modern computer systems use a two-key process where there is a public key that has little security and a private key that is known only to the user. It is the interaction of the two separate keys that allows users to decode their messages. Some organizations that rely heavily on encrypted messages will use a private key server as well.

For most of the history of cryptography, single key encryption was the norm. Messages were encoded using a single cipher or encoded multiple times with a series of ciphers. In order for anyone to decode these messages, they would need any ciphers that were used to encrypt them. This process, called symmetric cryptography, resulted in several broken codes when ciphers were intercepted while traveling to a new user.

In the 1970s, cryptologists invented asymmetric, or public key, cryptography. This process generally works using two keys, a public one and a private one. The public key is often on a key server, while the private key stays with the individual. The public key reads the private to determine its authenticity. The private key then decrypts the public key in a way only done by that specific private key—this will then allow the user to decode the message.

Accessing public key servers is vital to this system. In order for a person to send a message, they need access to the recipient’s public key. The message may then be tailor-encoded using algorithms generated by the key system. The original sender won’t even have knowledge of the specific method used to encode the message. Key servers allow access to public key information for this specific purpose.

Private key servers are much less relaxed. These servers contain the private half of an asymmetric encryption key or a decoding cipher for a symmetric system. These servers are often well-protected through both physical security and network systems. In fact, some private key servers are only online at specific times of the day or when the information is needed; they work offline the rest of the time.

Typically, only large organizations really have a need for private key servers. Small groups or individuals typically don’t require such tight security on their keys. In addition, the security and hardware is often quite expensive, further reducing the use of these systems.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
M. McGee
By M. McGee
Mark McGee is a skilled writer and communicator who excels in crafting content that resonates with diverse audiences. With a background in communication-related fields, he brings strong organizational and interpersonal skills to his writing, ensuring that his work is both informative and engaging.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
M. McGee
M. McGee
Mark McGee is a skilled writer and communicator who excels in crafting content that resonates with diverse audiences....
Learn more
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-are-key-servers.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.