Method and apparatus for centralized processing of hardware tokens for PKI solutions

摘要

Method and apparatus for centralized processing of hardware tokens for a public key infrastructure (PKI). A commercially available token is received at a secure processing facility. An operating system is installed on the token. A unique key encipherment certificate is created that includes a public key for the token. The unique key encipherment certificate is written onto the token. A Root Certificate Authority certificate is also written onto the token. A unique private key is written onto the token where the unique private key is the matching key for the unique key encipherment certificate. A software package is loaded onto the token. The software package is capable of cryptologically validating future keys and certificates, decrypting the keys and certificates, and installing the keys and certificates in the token.