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Press Release

Contact:

Dr. Christopher Harding
Director
Directory Interoperability Forum
The Open Group

+44 118 9508311 X 2262

Security is First Priority for Directory Standardization

December 18, 2001 - San Francisco, California - The Directory Interoperability Forum (DIF) of The Open Group today published a White Paper on Standardization Priorities for the Directory.  Based on a survey of the Forum's membership, which includes customers and vendors of directory products, the White Paper lists the areas of directory standardization where progress is most urgently required.  At the top of the list is security.  The paper explains that standards are needed for LDAP Access Control, and that the Internet Engineering Task Force’s (IETF) new LDAP RFCs on Authentication Methods and use of Transport Layer Security are top priority for implementation by vendors.  The White Paper is freely available on the web at www.opengroup.org/pubs/catalog/w012.htm

Additional areas highlighted for action in the document are Directory Synchronization; onward progression of existing Base Directory Standards; Directory Server Replication; and Directory and XML.

Directories form a critical part of the infrastructure necessary to support an enterprise’s information and communications services, and the enterprise’s ability to conduct e-business. For integration of directories and other information sources from multiple vendors, there must be effective Open Directory Standards.

There is extensive directory standardization work in progress, but it is vital to focus and prioritize that work to speed up delivery of the products that customers require. The DIF will use the White Paper to focus the attention of implementers and standards bodies to what is needed.

The DIF will be guided by the recommendations of the White Paper in defining future versions of The Open Brand for LDAP 2000 and Works With LDAP 2000, The Open Group’s certification programs for directory servers and directory-enabled applications, respectively.

About The Open Group

The Open Group, a vendor-neutral and technology-neutral consortium, is committed to delivering greater business efficiency by bringing together buyers and suppliers of information technology to lower the time, cost and risks associated with integrating new technology across the enterprise.  The Open Group’s mission is to offer all organizations concerned with open information infrastructures a forum where they can share knowledge, integrate open initiatives, and certify approved products and processes in a manner in which they continue to trust our impartiality.  More information on our organization can be found at http://www.opengroup.org