Security of open systems

Abstract

As an enhancement to ISO's Open Systems Interconnection Reference Model, ECMA defines a security framework for distributed systems which is based on the concepts of security domains and security facilities. This paper describes a functional decomposition of the security of distributed systems, thus providing building blocks which can be specified and analysed in detail and can be used to establish a secure distributed processing environment for both private application software and public communication services such as electronic mail. The aim is to achieve both interoperability (openness) and a high level of confidence. © 1989.