What is the primary function of a registration authority (RA) in the certificate process?

The primary function of a registration authority (RA) in the certificate process is to validate requests for digital certificates. This role is crucial because the RA acts as a mediator between the user (or entity) requesting a certificate and the certificate authority (CA) that issues the certificate.

When an individual or organization applies for a digital certificate, the RA verifies their identity and the legitimacy of their request. This can involve a variety of checks, such as ensuring the requester has the right to use the domain name for which they are requesting a certificate or confirming the identity of an entity. By performing these validations, the RA ensures that only legitimate requests are forwarded to the CA, thus maintaining the integrity and trustworthiness of the digital certificate issuance process.

In contrast, the other functions listed serve different roles within the public key infrastructure (PKI). For example, checking certificate status using the Online Certificate Status Protocol (OCSP), maintaining a list of revoked certificates, and generating certificate signing requests are essential functions in the broader context of managing and maintaining certificates, but they do not specifically describe the RA's core responsibility.