The way we do business is changing. From retail to banking, enterprises in just about every market are turning toward new digital business models that connect customers, mobile workers, apps and devices. Once siloed information can now be shared between any device or location thanks in large part to the expansion of mobility and the cloud.

There’s just one problem ­— constantly evolving network environments require more robust security than ever before. Rather than relying on traditional password and username security, businesses must look for new ways to manage identities within a digital ecosystem. A public key infrastructure (PKI) solution can help do just that.

As the system of policies, procedures and roles that provide and regulate digital signatures and public-key encryption, PKI is vital to ensuring proper authentication doesn’t fall in the wrong hands. In fact, a recent report from Nucleus Research found that Entrust Datacard’s PKI solution reduced the probability of a risk event for enterprise and government customers by an average of 62 percent. Given the steadily increasing supply of enterprise applications and network configurations, many companies are seeking the help of managed PKI service providers like us, leaving them more time to focus on core competencies.

In addition to limiting risk, the right PKI solution also promises to increase end user productivity. Regardless of the industry, lengthy authentication processes often take time away from critical business needs. But by using a PKI solution to accelerate authentication and limit the need for manual user involvement, businesses stand to experience significant time savings as well as a boost in the accuracy of day-to-day operations.

When it comes to tracking down audit information, a PKI solution once again figures to meet the needs of businesses. For example, there may be times when a company needs to audit access information that’s more than 15 years old. Instead of spending hours or even days pulling such data and optimizing common mechanisms across devices and departments, businesses can quickly draw valuable insights from security information at a moment’s notice.

Yet another benefit PKI solutions offer is a reduction in IT staff costs. For many, the idea of implementing a PKI solution is associated with highly specialized — and highly expensive — in-house talent. But just because a solution helps maintain trust across an organization doesn’t mean it has to break the bank. While PKI technology used to be complicated enough that it required a specialized staff, that’s no longer the case. With a simple, easy-to-use PKI solution, businesses have the opportunity to streamline management, lower costs, and allocate resources to more pressing issues.

A changing business landscape has made it increasingly difficult for organizations to verify both sender and recipient identity, and ensure communication between the two parties remains verified and secure. With PKI solutions, however, such concerns may soon become a thing of the past.

Download the Entrust Datacard PKI Guidebook from Nucleus Research to learn more about how our PKI solutions can create a foundation of trust within your organization’s digital ecosystem — now and in the future.