Introduction: Navigating the Competitive Landscape of Public Key Infrastructure
The PKI market is experiencing a major transformation due to the fast development of technology, stricter regulatory requirements and increasing consumer demand for security and privacy. The key players in the market, including the device manufacturers, IT service companies and infrastructure vendors, are vying for dominance by using advanced technology such as artificial intelligence, automation and biometrics to enhance their offerings. Artificial intelligence (AI) startups are disrupting the traditional PKI deployment and management with their novel solutions. Competition is shifting to the integration of IoT and green IT. Among the regions, the Asia-Pacific and North American countries will have the highest growth potential. The strategic deployment trends are towards strengthening the resilience of cyber-attacks and meeting compliance requirements. By 2024–2025, C-level executives and strategic planners will need to understand the changes in the market to successfully manage the complexities of PKI.
Competitive Positioning
Full-Suite Integrators
These companies offer complete PKI solutions, integrating a variety of security services to meet different needs.
| Vendor | Competitive Edge | Solution Focus | Regional Focus |
|---|
| Verisign Inc. (u.s.) |
Established brand with global trust |
Domain registration and PKI services |
Global |
| Entrust Datacard Corporation (u.s.) |
Robust identity and credential solutions |
Identity management and PKI |
North America, Europe |
Specialized Technology Vendors
These vendors focus on niche PKI technologies, providing tailored solutions for specific use cases.
| Vendor | Competitive Edge | Solution Focus | Regional Focus |
|---|
| Comodo group inc. (u.s.) |
Strong emphasis on cybersecurity |
SSL certificates and PKI |
Global |
| Ascertia (u.s.) |
Expertise in digital signatures |
Digital signature solutions |
Global |
| Signix (u.s.) |
Focus on secure electronic signatures |
Electronic signature technology |
North America |
Infrastructure & Equipment Providers
These vendors provide the necessary infrastructure and equipment to support PKI implementations.
| Vendor | Competitive Edge | Solution Focus | Regional Focus |
|---|
| Assa Abloy group (Sweden) |
Leader in access control solutions |
Physical security and PKI |
Global |
| Lexmark international inc. (u.s.) |
Innovative printing and imaging solutions |
Document security and PKI |
North America, Europe |
| Docusign Inc (u.s.) |
Market leader in e-signature solutions |
E-signatures and document management |
Global |
| Godaddy Inc. (u.s.) |
Strong presence in domain services |
SSL certificates and web security |
Global |
| Sign (Belgium) |
Focus on secure digital transactions |
Digital identity and PKI |
Europe |
Emerging Players & Regional Champions
- Keyfactor (USA): Provides a complete PKI-as-a-service solution, specializing in IoT security and certificate life-cycle management. Recently won a contract to enhance the security of the vehicle systems of a major car manufacturer. The company is challenging the established PKI vendors with its bespoke solutions for new technology.
- The American company Sectigo, which specializes in automation of PKI solutions, has recently performed a large PKI implementation for a government agency. Their focus on automation and simplicity makes them a strong competitor for the traditional PKI suppliers.
- This American company, renowned for its advanced certificate management systems, has extended its service to include cloud-based PKI services. The company recently signed a partnership with a leading cloud service provider to offer security for cloud applications, integrating its services with those of other cloud service vendors.
- Trustwave (U.S.A.): PKI managed service provider, recently signed a contract with a financial institution to secure its digital transactions. This model, which focuses on compliance and risk management, challenges the traditional PKI model by putting a greater emphasis on services.
- GLOBALSIGN (Japan): Provides scalable PKI solutions focusing on identity and access management. They have recently implemented a PKI solution for a telecommunications company and are addressing local regulatory requirements in order to position themselves as the Asian regional champion.
Regional Trends: In 2023 there is a noticeable increase in the use of PKI solutions, particularly in North America and the Asia-Pacific region. A shift to more automation and integration with cloud services takes place. Furthermore, there is a growing need for PKI solutions for IoT security and compliance with local regulations.
Collaborations & M&A Movements
- The two companies have teamed up to integrate the PKI solutions of DigiCert with the Azure Cloud. This will enhance cloud security and simplify certificate management for enterprises, thereby strengthening their positions in the cloud market.
- Entrust acquired Identrust's PKI division in mid-23 in order to strengthen its identity and security offerings, which was expected to give it a significant market share in the PKI sector, which is experiencing a rise in demand because of the increasing demand for secure digital transactions.
- In a joint announcement, GlobalSign and Amazon Web Services (AWS) today announced a partnership to deliver managed PKI services on AWS, enhancing the security of cloud-based applications and strengthening their leadership positions in the fast-growing cloud security market.
Competitive Summary Table
| Capability | Leading Players | Remarks |
|---|
| Biometric Self-Boarding |
Gemalto, IDEMIA |
In major airports, Gemalto has successfully introduced biometric self-boarding, thereby improving passenger flow and reducing waiting times. IDEMIA’s technology is highly accurate and easily integrated with existing systems, as shown by its use in a number of international airports. |
| AI-Powered Ops Mgmt |
Thales, Entrust |
Thales is using artificial intelligence to optimize the operation of the PKI and improve certificate life cycles. Entrust’s artificial intelligence-based data analysis has already resulted in the reduction of operational costs for customers in the financial sector. |
| Border Control |
HID Global, Veridos |
HID’s border control solutions rely on advanced public key encryption for the secure verification of identity. They have been successfully implemented in many countries. Veridos is a leading player in the European market. Its high-security solutions, which meet international standards, are recognized for their scalability and the strength of their features. |
| Sustainability |
DigiCert, GlobalSign |
This is an example of a company that is committed to sustainability, and offers eco-friendly digital certificates that reduce carbon footprints. Green initiatives and green partnership programs are an example of the company's commitment to sustainable development. |
| Passenger Experience |
SecuGen, MorphoTrust |
SecuGen aims to enhance the traveller experience by making biometric identification more convenient, and has been well received by many airports. MorphoTrust’s solutions are designed to speed up the passenger journey, as has been demonstrated by their successful deployment at several airports in the United States. |
Conclusion: Navigating the Evolving PKI Landscape
In 2023 the PKI market is characterized by strong competition and fragmentation, with both established and new players competing for market share. In the different regions of the world the trends are to be found in a growing focus on security and compliance, particularly in North America and Europe. On the other hand, Asia-Pacific is seeing rapid growth in its PKI market, mainly driven by digital transformation. The vendors are preparing strategically by enhancing their capabilities in artificial intelligence, automation and green IT, which are becoming critical differentiators in this market. Those vendors that can integrate these features will be the market leaders. The strategic planners should follow these developments closely and adjust their strategies accordingly to take advantage of the changing market.
