Key Manager

A Key is a series of numbers or symbols that are used to encode a message so that it can only be read by someone in possession of that key or a related key. A key allows both the sender and the recipient of the message to understand how the message has been encrypted and assures them that nobody else knows how it has been encrypted. It is the key that enables the recipient to properly decode the message. Adeptia Suite uses two different keys: a public key to encrypt the message, and a private key to decrypt it. The public key can only be used to encrypt the message and the private key can only be used to decrypt it. To secure information between two users, the sender encrypts the message using the public key of the receiver. The receiver then uses the private key to decrypt the message.
To store the keys, a new feature Key Manager has been added in Adeptia Suite. This feature enables you to manage both types of keys: public and private. These keys are further used to apply encryption and decryption in Adeptia Suite activities.

Key manager uses the following two types of key managers:

• PGP - This type of key manager contains 2 keys - public key and private key. You can use this type of key manager in your data security activity for encryption and decryption of data.
• SSH - This type of key manager contains only one key type, that is, private key. You can use this type of key manager if you want to communicate to a SFTP server.

This section covers the following:

• Steps to create a Key Manager activity
• Import key or key ring

Steps to create a Key Manager activity

1. On the Adeptia Suite home page, click the Develop tab.

2. Go to Services > Security > Key Manager. The Manage Key Manager screen is displayed (see Figure 636).

   

   Figure 636: Manage Key Manager page

3. Click the Create New link. The New Key Manager screen is displayed (see Figure 637).

   
   Figure 637: New Key Manager

4. Enter the name and description of the Key Manager in the text boxes Name and Description respectively.
5. Select a key manager type.

6. If you select the PGP key manager type then, select if you want to import a Key or a Key Ring.

   Key - Contains only a single key
   Key Ring - Contains multiple keys and when you select this radio button then, the Key Manager stores all the keys within the Key Ring.
    
   If you select the SSH key manager type then perform the steps 9 and 10.

7. Select the type of key from the Key Type drop-down list.

   Public - Encrypts the data
   Private - Decrypts an encrypted data

8. To upload the key, click the Browse button and select the key. The path of the respective Key will be displayed in the text box Key.

   Only the private keys require a password. The fields Private Key Password and Confirm Password will only be enabled when you select the option Private from the Key drop-down list.

9. If you select the SSH key manager type then, enter the private key password in Private Key Password text box.
10. Re-enter the private key password in the Confirm Password text box.
11. Click Save to save the Key Manager.

Similarly, you can create a Key Manager activity to decrypt an encrypted file received by the Adeptia Server (see Figure 638).

Figure 638: Key Manager to Decrypt an Encrypted Source File

The key manager activity to decrypt an encrypted file requires the Private Key and only the private keys require a password.
Import Key or Key Ring
If you want to import a key or a key ring into your Key Manager after the creation of Key Manager then, follow the below steps:

1. On the Manage Key Manager screen, right-click on the Key Manager activity of your choice.

2. Select the Import Key Ring (Public/Private) option from the context menu (see Figure 639).

   
   Figure 639: Import Screen

3. On the Import screen, select the Import type, Key Type, and mention the Key File Path.
4. Click the Submit button.