Canadian Health Information Management Association Practice Exam

Which technology allows for secure digital communications?

1. SSL

2. Firewall

3. VPN

4. PKI

The correct answer is: PKI

Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) is a framework that enables secure digital communications by using a combination of hardware, software, policies, and standards to manage digital certificates and public-key encryption. PKI employs asymmetric cryptography, which involves a pair of cryptographic keys—one public and one private. The public key can be shared with anyone, while the private key is kept secret by the owner. When two parties wish to communicate securely, PKI facilitates the creation of digital certificates that authenticate the identities of the parties involved. This process ensures that the information exchanged is encrypted, thus safeguarding it from interception or tampering during transmission. By verifying the authenticity of the communicating parties, PKI provides a high level of security, which is essential for sensitive data, particularly in healthcare settings where confidentiality is paramount. Other options like SSL (Secure Sockets Layer) and VPN (Virtual Private Network) also play significant roles in securing communications. SSL is a protocol that relies on PKI to establish a secure connection, while a VPN creates a private network over a public one, often utilizing protocols that incorporate PKI technologies. Firewalls, although crucial for network security, primarily filter traffic and do not inherently facilitate secure communications. Thus, PKI stands out as the technology that