certification authority (CA)

In cryptography, a center trusted by one or more agencies or individuals to create and assign certificates and, optionally, to create user's keys. [After X9.31] 2. In secure communications, a trusted person or entity who issues certificates (also called "public- key certificates") for encryption purposes. 3. An independent party identifying and certifying payers and payees for real-time credit card transactions in electronic commerce. [Mattila] 4. Third level of the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI)Certification Management Authority responsible for issuing and revoking user certificates, and exacting compliance to the PKI policy as defined by-the parent Policy Creation Authority (PCA). [INFOSEC-99]