Welcome to European Bridge-CA

The European Bridge-CA (EB-CA) enables a secure and authentic communication between businesses and public authorities. The Public-Key-Infrastructures (PKI s) of the individual organizations are linked with each other, and certificates that have already been issued can be used beyond the local "identity islands". Thus, various business processes (e.g. Secure Email, Secure Logon, Secure eID, etc.) can be utilized beyond the boundaries of individual organizations.

The European Bridge-CA works as a central link between the organizations and provides extensive services for the integration of new participants and the operation of the EB-CA. Individual organizations do not have to spend time negotiating contractual stipulations with all their communication partners anymore. One single contract with the European Bridge-CA is sufficient in order to realize secure electronic business processes with all other participants. This service enables the establishment of federal business connections while avoiding media disruption - caused by the usage of paper - during the communication. Thus, room is created for possible cost reductions and the improvement of business processes from which the participants benefit.

The admission to the EB-CA is deliberately straightforward and easy to realize in order to achieve a preferably high acceptance of this technology and the advantages connected with it.
A neutral board decides on the connection of existing Public-Key-Infrastructures to the European Bridge-CA.

Hardware as well as software certificates are valid as long as they ensure minimum standards of interoperability. In the long run, the change to chip cards is aimed at comply the stipulations of the signature law. The board pragmatically represents the interests of the participants and users. Since the existing PKI and already issued certificates can be used continuously, business expenditures referring to this matter are protected.

When an organization registers and is allowed admission to the EB-CA, it can immediately use all of the services (repository service, validation service) without having exhausting dialogues or entering into contracts with every single business. The European Bridge-CA thus allows of cross-organizational PKI solutions. One application is the exchange of signed and encrypted E-Mails.

At the same time, the EB-CA community is an ideal forum where experiences can be exchanged. It is also suitable for organizations which do not have yet a Publi-Key-Infrastructure and it is especially helpful for the development and operation of a PKI.