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Home / Glossary / PKCS
Glossary · Security

PKCS

Public Key Cryptography Standards

In plain language

A set of numbered technical rules for how to store and use keys and certificates.

The metaphor

Like numbered shipping-container standards, so every port handles the boxes the same way.

Going deeper

How it works

  • Each number covers a different task.
  • PKCS #12 is the one people meet most, as the certificate and key bundle.
  • They were written by RSA Security.
  • They let different products work together.
In practice
  • A certificate file ends in .p12 after PKCS #12.
  • A tool lists the standards it supports.
  • A developer reads one to build a feature.

A question owners ask

Do I need to learn these?

No. You may see the name in a file type or setting.

Related terms
AAAAuthentication, Authorization, and AccountingAccount takeoverACLAccess Control ListAdmin accountAESAdvanced Encryption StandardAES-256Advanced Encryption Standards 256-bitAISAutomated Indicator SharingAPTAdvanced Persistent Threat

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