Public Key Infrastructure

A robust, flexible, standard, and open Public-Key Infra-structure Architecture is critical to the success of secure systems based on Public-Key technology.

The Open Group have begun to work with experts in other organisations, (IETF, CommerceNet, European Commission funded projects, etc.), to define a common architecture for a public key infrastructure. This will make use of existing standards in The Open Group and the IETF for instance, and will identify gaps in the infrastructure that need to be filled. The Open Group also intends to work with other organisations to encourage early commercial implementations and pilot trials.

Contact the PKI Task Group via email (pki-tg@opengroup.org)

Downloadable items below:

Latest proposals for an HMG PKI, (in both Postscript and Acrobat PDF), - submitted by the Communications Electronic Security Group (CESG) for review, and comprised of:
1			Infosec memorandum 14 - describes proposed HMG PKI architecure to support Confidentiality.
2			Infosec memorandum 15 - descibes proposed HMG PKI architecture to support Authentication.
			Supporting Infosec memorandum 14 are the following:
3			Cloud Cover Part 1 - defines the architecture & operations for a key infrastructure (CKI)
4			Cloud Cover Part 2 - defines the Key management prootcols for the CKI
6			Cloud Cover Part 3 - defines the Public Certificate profile for the CKI
7			Cloud Cover Part 4 - defines a schema for the use of X.500 directory to support the CKI
8			Cloud Cover Part 5 - defines Key management protocols (as defined in part 2) are mapped onto underlying communications and messaging protocols.

Wherever possible we have identified contact points for further information. If you can't find the information you need, please contact The Open Group at any of of the following locations: