Administrator's Guide

Security
54 Xerox
®
ColorQube 8580/8880 Color Printer
System Administrator Guide
About Certificates
A digital certificate is a file that contains data used to verify the identity of the client or server in a
network transaction. A certificate also contains a public key used to create and verify digital signatures.
One device proves its identity to another by presenting a certificate trusted by the other device. Or, the
device can present a certificate signed by a trusted third party and a digital signature proving its
ownership of the certificate.
A digital certificate includes the following data:
• Information about the owner of the certificate
• The certificate serial number and expiration date
• The name and digital signature of the certificate authority (CA) that issued the certificate
• A public key
• A purpose defining how the certificate and public key can be used
The printer supports three types of certificates. You can create a self-signed certificate, or install a root
certificate or a certificate signed by a certificate authority (CA).
• A Device Certificate is a certificate for which the printer has a private key. The purpose specified in
the certificate allows it to be used to prove identity.
• The printer generates a default self-signed certificate during its first startup.
• A CA Certificate is a certificate with authority to sign other certificates. The device certificate signed
by a CA validates the identity of the printer to the network.
• A Root or Trust Point Certificate is a self-signed certificate from another device that you want to
trust.