X9 vs WebPKI: guidance for financial institutions

X9 PKI is a financial industry-specific certificate framework designed for secure communication within a closed ecosystem of U.S. financial institutions. The X9 framework is often brought into the conversation - but it’s frequently misunderstood or misapplied. While it offers greater control and stability for financial systems, it introduces tradeoffs such as shared risk and lack of universal trust.

Join this session to get a practical view of what X9 certificates are, how they compare to WebPKI, and where they actually make sense in real-world environments. We’ll break down the tradeoffs of shared private CAs, explore the unique pressures facing financial institutions, and give you a decision framework you can apply. Our customer ARKEA is joining us for a customer spotlight – learn why they decided against X9 PKI and how they switched to SFTP.

• X9 certificates explained: the concept of a closed ecosystem trust model

• Why some financial institutions lean on X9 certificates: the objectives and challenges of X9

• Shared private CAs: the tradeoffs of a shared private CA

• X9 PKI vs WebPKI: do X9 certificates have a place? Key takeaways and a decision framework

• Customer spotlight: how Arkea decided against X9 and switched from ClientAuth via WebPKI to SFTP