Abstract: An embodiment may involve receiving, by a proxy server within a network, a request from a first device to communicate with a second device within the network. The first device may be external to the network. The first example embodiment may also involve querying, using a first security credential, a keystore within the network. The keystore maintains security credentials associated with devices within the network. The first example embodiment may also involve receiving, from the keystore, a second security credential associated with the second device. The first example embodiment may also involve facilitating, by the proxy server, communication between the first device and the second device using the second security credential.

Abstract: In an embodiment of a method of creating ciphertext, the embodiment includes the step of providing an authority with a piece of information that is associated with an entity. The embodiment also includes the step of acquiring from the authority a cryptographic key that is based on the piece of information. In addition to the previous two steps, the embodiment includes the step of encrypting plaintext with an encryption process that uses the cryptographic key to thereby create the ciphertext.