Terms and glossary

A person has to register a Smart-ID account to use services provided by the Smart-ID system. Account binds a Smart-ID app instance (installed on a person’s mobile device) to a person’s identity in the Smart-ID system. In the course of account creation and registration, the identity of the account owner (person) is proofed by a Registration Authority (RA) and the relation between the identity and a key pair is certified by a Certificate Authority (CA). An account has a signature key pair and an authentication key pair.

A technical component of the Smart-ID system. A mobile app instance installed on a person’s mobile device that provides access to Smart-ID functionality for persons.

An organization that is legally responsible for the Smart-ID system.

A technical component of the Smart-ID system. Server-side counterpart of the Smart-ID app. Handles backend operations and provides API-s to Relying Party (RP).

- A technical and organizational environment, which enables digital authentication and issuing of digital signatures of persons in an electronic environment. The Smart-ID system provides services that allow persons (Smart-ID account owners) to authenticate themselves to RPs, to give digital signatures requested by RPs, and to manage their Smart-ID accounts.

Key pair, which is used to digitally authenticate a person.

An entity that issues certificates for Smart-ID account owners.

Pair of keys, which are required for digital signature scheme. There are two kinds of key pairs (or shortly, keys) in the Smart-ID system, authentication key pair and signature key pair. The word pair refers to the private and public keys of each key pair used in an asymmetric cryptographic algorithm, here RSA.

A tablet computer or smartphone that runs a mobile device operating system (Apple iOS, Google Android).

A natural person who uses the Smart-ID system to authenticate herself to an RP and to issue digital signatures requested by RP.

An entity responsible for recording or verifying some or all of the information (particularly the identities of subjects) needed by a CA to issue certificates and CRLs and to perform other certificate management functions.

An organization or service, for example a bank, which is using the Smart-ID service to authenticate its users and to get them to sign the documents.

A request from an RP that requires some kind of operation in the Smart-ID backend system. It may or may not create a transaction.

Key pair, which is used to give digital signatures of a person.