This paper assumes that the reader is somewhat familiar with public key technologies and its uses. Microsoft s primary motivation for integrating public key services in Windows 2000 was to enable the platform for future e-business opportunities. Integrating public key services with Windows 2000 also meant taking advantage of the Active Directory service and the security infrastructure provided by the operating system to keep ownership costs down by making management of a PKI as transparent as possible. Likewise, implementation of established Internet standards was an important requirement to achieve interoperability with other standards-based PKI products.
Standards are the basis for achieving interoperability between products from different vendors.
To achieve PKI interoperability, Microsoft actively works with other vendors and participates in industry-sponsored testing events. Microsoft will continue to incorporate new standards into its products in order to make interoperability a key feature of the Windows platform. All rights reserved. Terms of use.