CompTIA Network+ Practice Test

What is the primary purpose of a Certificate Authority (CA)?

1. A trusted third-party organization that issues digital certificates

2. To store all internal certificates for a company

3. A service to verify user identities

4. To provide free SSL certificates for public use

The correct answer is: A trusted third-party organization that issues digital certificates

The primary purpose of a Certificate Authority (CA) is to act as a trusted third-party organization that issues digital certificates. These digital certificates are crucial in establishing secure communications over networks, such as the internet. They help to authenticate the identity of websites and organizations, ensuring that users are connecting to legitimate entities rather than potential impostors. By issuing digital certificates, the CA vouches for the authenticity of the information contained within the certificate, including the public key and the identity of the certificate holder. This trust model is foundational in securing online transactions, communications, and data exchanges through protocols like HTTPS. The other options focus on aspects that don't represent the primary function of a CA. While some CAs may indeed store certificates internally, that is not their main role; their core function is issuing and validating them. The verification of user identities is a part of the service provided by CAs, but it falls under the broader task of digital certificate issuance and management. Finally, while some CAs may provide free SSL certificates, not all do, and this is a specific offering rather than the primary purpose of what a CA accomplishes in the realm of digital security.