Defining Security in Primary Key Infrastructures

Kurtis B Palmateer

Abstract

Smart card authentication is a methodology used for security across various network infrastructures that demand multiple factors in user authentication. The present existence of smart card authentication thrives in our mobile and payment card networks; but can be applied to the average organization’s local area network (LAN) and remote connectivity mediums for a baseline of multiple factor authentication. Moreover, this paper looks into implementing network-wide smart card authentication on enterprise systems in an attempt to alleviate those systems of passwordbased authentication schemes. Much emphasis and research will be provided on the detailed characteristics of smart card authentication and its implementation on modern network appliances, key distribution servers and endpoint configurations.