Objectives of Meeting

Communication

The Messaging Forum started in North America. The major focus of the meeting in Barcelona was to improve the visibility of the work of the Forum to European attendees.

• The Messaging Forum presented one stream of the Architecture Practitioners Conference, to present the recently completed S/MIME Secure Messaging Architecture.
• The agenda included one "open house" session to present other Forum activities to meeting attendees.

Project Work

Members of the Messaging Forum met in closed session (with teleconference participation from remote participants) with the following objectives:

• Complete the bank of questions upon which the examination for S/MIME Secure Messaging Certification is based.
• Plan the introduction of the S/MIME Secure Messaging Certification program.
• Review the response from calconnect.org to the Federated Free/Busy Challenge and agree next steps.
• Plan the agenda for the April meeting in Washington DC.

Summary

Communication

Stream 5 of the Architecture Practitioners Conference featured the S/MIME Secure Messaging Architecture.

• Rationale for a Secure Messaging Architecture and Introduction to E-Mail Security
  Mike Lambert (MGL Consulting Services) outlined the role of architecture in the evolution of the Internet E-Mail system and the need for a more formalized approach to architecture to meet the increasing needs for secure e-mail.
   
• Architecture Models for Secure E-Mail
  Stephan Wappler (Noventum Consulting) compared and contrasted different architecture models included in the S/MIME Secure Architecture, with different trust models appropriate to different segments of the market.
   
• Components and Usage of a Public Key Infrastructure
  Wen Fang (Boeing) described the components of a Public Key Infrastructure, essential for key management for encryption between individual users.
   
• Bridge Infrastructures
  Stephan Wappler described the role of Bridge-CA organizations in integrating PKI "islands"
   
• S/MIME Secure Messaging Certification
  Mike Lambert concluded the session by describing a certification program to be introduced in Q1/2006 to identify individuals and organizations who are able to assist in the deployment of systems that conform to the S/MIME Secure Messaging Architecture

The Forum "Open House" session provided an opportunity for conference attendees to find out more about the activities of the Messaging Forum.

• How the Forum operates
  Mike Lambert presented an overview of the objectives of the Forum and how it operates.
   
• Secure Messaging Challenge
  Stephan Wappler described the Secure Messaging Challenge that ultimately resulted in the S/MIME Secure Messaging Architecture
   
• Federated Free/Busy Challenge
  Mike Lambert presented the business problem associated with meeting scheduling and the challenge posed to the vendor members of the calconnect.org organization.
   
• S/MIME Gateway Certification
  Mike Lambert presented an outline of the joint project with MHDC that resulted in the S/MIME Gateway certification program.
   
• Certificate Policy Assurance
  Stephan Wappler described the problem associated with audting of Certificate Policies in order to establish trust between business partners.

Project Work

• S/MIME Secure Messaging Certification
  • Team members reviewed the bank of questions prepared for the S/MIME Secure Messaging Certification examination. Additional questions were generated in selected areas, and similar questions which should not appear in the same examination paper were flagged.
  • Following the successful beta trail of the program in Japan in Q4/2005, a roll-out for the program was agreed.
     
• Federated Free/Busy
  • calconnect.org responded to the Federated Free/Busy with questions of clarification and some concerns about the proposed timescale.
  • A response to the questions was agreed, together with an alternative plan if calconnect.org declines to accept the challenge.
     
• Certificate Policy Assurance
  • An approach involving a US Bridge-CA organization proved not be feasible.
  • An alternative approach in Europe will be tested in the next quarter.
     
• April 2005 Meeting
  • The structure and promotion plan for the April 2005 meeting in Washington DC was agreed.

Outputs

Presentation Materials

• See links embedded in the description above.

S/MIME Secure Messaging Certification

• Bank of questions for the examination paper
• Roll-out plan

Federated Free/Busy

• Response to calconnect.org

Next Steps

S/MIME Secure Messaging Certification

• Review of examination questions for fairness and accuracy of model answers
• Formal launch of program
• Forum Members to be among first individuals CERTIFIED
• Training course and examinations in April 2006
  • April 3rd/4th: UK hosted by The Open Group
  • April 6th/7th: Germany hosted by Noventum
  • April 26th/27th: US as part of the Washington DC meeting

Federated Free/Busy

1. Continue interaction with calconnect.org
2. Plan workshop session in Washington, DC (invite W3C participation)

Certificate Policy Assurance

• Propose joint project to Teletrust organization in Germany (group who manages the European Bridge-CA).

April 2005 Meeting (w/c 25th April, Washington DC)

• Monday: SSM Certification presentation at end of plenary. Forum display table during reception.
• Tuesday: Parallel workshops. Federated Free/Busy and SMG Certification v2
• Wednesday/Thursday: SSM Certification training course

Links

Embedded in descriptions above.