Who is responsible for collecting and verifying identities on behalf of the Certificate Authority?

The role of collecting and verifying identities on behalf of the Certificate Authority is typically assigned to the Registration Authority (RA). The RA acts as a mediator between users requesting digital certificates and the Certificate Authority (CA) that issues those certificates. Its primary function is to validate the identity of individuals or entities before a certificate is issued.

This process involves several essential tasks: the RA gathers information from the applicant, checks that the information is accurate and complete, and may perform additional verification steps to confirm the identity. Once the RA has validated the identity, it forwards the request to the CA for certificate issuance. This is crucial for maintaining the trustworthiness and integrity of the certificate issuance process, as it ensures that only legitimate identities receive certificates.

The other roles in the context of digital certificates, such as the Root CA and Intermediate CA, are primarily involved in the structure and management of certificates rather than in identity verification. The Public Key Manager typically focuses on the management of public keys rather than the authentication of identities. Thus, the Registration Authority is the correct answer as it encompasses the responsibility for the verification process prior to certificate issuance.