The process of adding a digital certificate to an Android operating system enables secure communication and authentication. This operation is generally undertaken to allow the device to trust secure connections to specific servers, such as those used by corporate networks or for accessing specialized applications. For example, a user may be required to import a certificate authority (CA) certificate to access an internal company website that uses HTTPS with a self-signed certificate.
This procedure ensures enhanced security and privacy for data transmitted between the Android device and the server. Organizations often utilize this to secure internal communications and protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Historically, the need for this function grew with the increasing reliance on mobile devices for accessing corporate resources and the associated security challenges.