Which of the following describes the role of a Certification Authority (CA)?

The role of a Certification Authority (CA) is primarily to issue digital certificates. These certificates are crucial for establishing trust in communications over networks, such as the internet. When a CA issues a digital certificate, it essentially verifies and authenticates the identity of the entity requesting the certificate and binds it to a public key. This process plays a vital role in public key infrastructure (PKI) by enabling secure and encrypted communication between parties.

By issuing digital certificates, the CA helps ensure that users can trust the origin and integrity of the data being exchanged. This is foundational for processes like secure web browsing (SSL/TLS certificates), email security, and other forms of digital communication where verification of identities is critical.

The other choices do not accurately define the specific functions of a CA. Managing user access privileges relates more to identity and access management. Providing cloud computing services pertains to technologies that deliver computing resources over the internet, and ensuring data encryption is a broader concept that can be implemented through various means, including but not limited to the issuance of digital certificates.