What is a key characteristic of a Certification Authority?

A Certification Authority (CA) is primarily responsible for managing policies and procedures for issuing digital certificates. These certificates serve to verify the identity of individuals or entities and secure electronic communications. The management of policies is crucial because it ensures that the CA operates in a trustworthy manner, adhering to established standards for the issuance and management of certificates. This involves defining how identities are verified, what types of certificates can be issued, and ensuring compliance with regulations and industry best practices.

The focus on policy management is what sets CAs apart in ensuring that digital communications remain secure and reliable. This encompasses everything from certificate lifecycle management to revocation processes, all of which require a strong governance framework to maintain credibility and trust in the certification process.