This International Standard sets out a framework of requirements to manage a PKI through certificate policies and certification practice statements and to enable the use of public key certificates in the financial services industry. It also defines control objectives and supporting procedures to manage risks.

This International Standard draws a distinction between PKI systems used in open, closed and contractual environments. It further defines the operational practices relative to financial services industry accepted information systems control objectives. This International Standard is intended to help implementers to define PKI practices that can support multiple certificate policies that include the use of digital signature, remote authentication and data encryption.

This International Standard facilitates the implementation of operational, baseline PKI control practices that satisfy the requirements for the financial services industry in a contractual environment. While the focus of this International Standard is on the contractual environment, application of this document to other environments is not specifically precluded. For the purposes of this document, the term “certificate” refers to public key certificates. Attribute certificates are outside the scope of this International Standard.

This International Standard is targeted for several audiences having dissimilar needs and therefore the use of this document will have a different focus for each.

Business Managers and Analysts are those who require information regarding using PKI technology in their evolving businesses (e.g., electronic commerce) and should focus on Clauses 1 to 6.

Technical Designers and Implementers are those who are writing their certificate policy(ies) and certification practice statement(s) and should focus on Clauses 6 to 8 and Annexes A to F.

Operational Management and Auditors are those who are responsible for day-to-day operations of the PKI and validating compliance to this document and should focus on Clauses 6 to 8.