A Private Key is essential for authenticating connections to a tenant file server. This method ensures secure and verified communication between the Nextiva service and the tenant’s server using public key authentication.
How Private Key Authentication Works
SFTP or SCP authentication using private keys is generally known as public key authentication, which entails using a public and private key pair. Although these public and private keys have similarities with the public and private keys used in encryption, they are used for different purposes. While the public and private keys used in encryption preserve confidentiality, the public and private keys discussed here are used for authenticating a Nextiva service connecting to a tenant file server.
To implement public key authentication, a tenant would need to generate a key pair for a particular file server, place the public key on its server, and hand over the corresponding private key to a Nextiva administrator to upload it.
Every time a tenant file is transferred to a tenant file server, an internal client uses the private key to generate a digital signature that the server, through the corresponding public key stored there, can validate and match with the corresponding account.
Creating a Private Key
Search for the Private Key icon on the options menu. Click Plus (+) and fill out the required information. Click Save.
Information Tab
| Field Name | Description |
| Name | The name of the public key. |
| Description | The description of the public key. |
| File | The private key provided by the tenant. |