A PKI is relevant for companies and organizations that want to reliably secure digital identities and automate certificate-based processes. Typical use cases include authenticating users, devices, servers, and applications, securing network access, encrypted communication, digital signatures, and IoT and machine-to-machine communication.
A PKI is particularly relevant in larger or heterogeneous IT environments, as well as in regulated industries and critical infrastructure. Regulatory requirements such as NIS2 or DORA may include requirements related to cryptography, access protection, risk management, and traceability, and a professionally operated PKI can help organizations address these requirements. The specific need for and design of a PKI always depends on the organization’s particular use case and regulatory requirements.