XML White Papers

XKMS: XML Key Management

• Tags:
• xml,
• trust,
• xml,
• transactions

Overview XML (Extensible Markup Language), the flexible data framework that allows applications to communicate on the Internet, has become the preferred infrastructure for e-commerce applications. All of those transactions require trust and security, making it mission-critical to devise common XML mechanisms for authenticating merchants, buyers, and suppliers to each other, and for digitally signing and encrypting XML documents like contracts and payment transactions. XML Trust Services—a four-component suite of open specifications for application developers developed in partnership with industry leaders including Microsoft, Ariba, webMethods, and Netegrity—makes it easier than ever to integrate a broad range of trust services into B2B and B2C applications. XML complements Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and digital certificates, the standard method for securing Internet transactions. To simplify the integration of PKI and digital certificates with XML applications, VeriSign, Microsoft, and webMethods have created the open XKMS (XML Key Management Specification) specification. Developers can take advantage of XKMS to integrate authentication, digital signature, and encryption services, such as certificate processing and revocation status checking, into applications in a matter of hours—without the constraints and complications associated with proprietary PKI software toolkits. With XKMS, trust functions reside in servers accessible via easily programmed XML transactions. Developers can allow applications to delegate all or part of the processing of XML digital signatures and encrypted elements to VeriSign, shielding the application form the complexity of the underlying PKI.

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