Patent ID: 8627085

Claim:
A method of generating certificates, the method comprising: receiving at a portal on a server side of a public key infrastructure, a request for a certificate from a client; said portal processing said request using a first policy engine in accordance with a first set of predefined protocols, said portal being communicably interposed between said client and a certification authority, said first policy engine allowing policies to be defined and modified, said policies comprising a set of rules; said portal determining whether to approve or deny said request according to said first set of predefined protocols, said portal configured to provide multiple protocol handling to accommodate different client types and to translate at least one protocol request and relay back at least one protocol response between said client and said certification authority; for an approved request, said portal requesting a certificate from said certification authority; said portal receiving said certificate from said certification authority; and said portal providing said certificate to said client; said first policy engine configured to perform at least one function associated with at least one policy and to generate a notification in response to completion of said at least one function.