Quantifying Cost Structure of Campus PKI Based on Estimation and Actual Measurement

A ubiquitous ICT environment has rapidly developed through cloud computing, becoming very convenient to use. However, the threats of computer viruses, unauthorized accesses, attacks on servers, etc. have emerged. These threats also occur in the academic environment. Thus, a public key infrastructure (PKI) construction for achieving a safe and secure university ICT environment is desired. The University PKI project is underway at the National Institute of Informatics, and common specifications, such as supply specifications for a campus PKI and certificate policy/certification practice statement guidelines, have been proposed. However, PKIs are still rarely deployed. They generally have a high cost structure, and this has become one of the issues in their spread and promotion. This study quantitatively clarifies the cost structure of a PKI through estimation and actual measurement. This clarification will contribute to the increased use and advancement of a campus PKI.