In cooperation with the DFN association, the university computing center offers a public key infrastructure (PKI). The PKI enables the following services:

• User certificates:
  • Signing and encryption of files and documents
  • Signing and encryption of emails
• Server certificates:
  • Tap-proof network connections via SSL / TLS

In the architecture of a PKI, there are one or more digital certificate authorities (CAs) that issue digital certificates. These certification authorities must be known to the operating system or/and the software used so that a check of the validity of a digital certificate can be carried out.

• In the first step, it must therefore be checked whether these certification authorities are already present in the operating system / in the software to be used.
• The second step is then to apply for and use the digital certificate.

You can find more information on the website of the DFN-PKI.

The control and, if necessary, integration of the certification authorities into the operating system / the software used is described in the subitem Certification authorities.

University members - with the exception of students - can use the DFN-PKI to receive digital user certificates according to the X.509 standard. The application is described in the subitem User certificates.

University members - with the exception of students - can also receive digital server certificates according to the X.509 standard with the help of the DFN-PKI. The application is described in the subitem server certificates.