This collection of topics describes the concepts of cryptography
applicable to Blueworx Voice Response Voice
over IP.
The term entity is used to refer to a client, an individual
user, or any other system capable of exchanging messages.
Cryptography
Cryptography is the process of converting between readable text, called plaintext, and an unreadable form, called ciphertext.
Message digests and digital signatures
A message digest is a fixed size numeric representation of the contents of a message, computed by a hash function. A message digest can be encrypted, forming a digital signature.
Digital certificates
Digital certificates protect against impersonation, certifying that a public key belongs to a specified entity. They are issued by a Certificate Authority.
Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)
A Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a system of facilities, policies, and services that supports the use of public key cryptography for authenticating the parties that are involved in a transaction.