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The Federal PKI

Learn about the design, operation, and implications of the Federal PKI, including the Federal Bridge Certification Authority and its role in cross-certification. Understand the challenges and opportunities for higher education institutions in the PKI space.

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The Federal PKI

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  1. The Federal PKI Or, How to Herd Worms Peter Alterman Senior Advisor, Federal PKI Steering Committee

  2. Drivers for a Federal PKI • Statutes – GPEA & E-SIGN.. so far • Executive Orders • Private industry Alterman I2 3/9/01

  3. Fundamental Design Issues • Single Federal PKI envisioned early • Then reality set in… • Hence the Federal Bridge Certification Authority. • Requires creation of the Federal Bridge Policy Authority to manage Bridge and • Creation of the Federal Bridge Operational Authority to run the Bridge. Alterman I2 3/9/01

  4. Operating Assumptions of the Federal Bridge Certification Authority • No matter how desirable it may be, or how cost-effective, there cannot be a single Federal PKI that will pervade all Executive Agencies. • In order to finesse the above reality, divine inspiration birthed the concept of the Federal Bridge Certification Authority (FBCA). • The model for the FBCA is that of a non-hierarchical hub linking and cross-certifying participating PKIs and bridges. Alterman I2 3/9/01

  5. Elements of the Federal Bridge • Cross-Certification and Policy Mapping • Certificate arbitration (connectivity) • CRL and Directory Services Alterman I2 3/9/01

  6. How the Federal Bridge Works NIH CA IL State CA FBCA user DOE CA HEPKI BCA Others user UA-B CA user Alterman I2 3/9/01

  7. Things You Should Notice • Institutional C.A.s don’t cross-certify with the Federal Bridge CA. • Federal Bridge CA cross-certifies with Federal and State entities and with other Bridges only. • This is a new model: policy and technical issues drive the new model. • New model relies on proliferation of other bridges. Alterman I2 3/9/01

  8. Issues for the Federal Bridge • Where the production Bridge resides • Getting multiple CA products to interoperate within the Bridge • Directory operations • Performance expectations and design upgrades • $$ • Client application software • New products in the PKI space (read Microsoft) • New technology models (challenges to “traditional” PKI Alterman I2 3/9/01

  9. Implications for Higher Ed • Higher education bridge becomes a critical requirement for doing business with the Feds and maybe the States Alterman I2 3/9/01

  10. Questions for Higher Ed and the Feds • Do state institutions cross-certify with the HE bridge or State bridge/FBCA? • Can Institutions use the FBCA-HEPKICA path for non-Federal transactions? Alterman I2 3/9/01

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