Throughout the world, Military Messaging services have become an essential component of a modern Defence Force Command and Control infrastructure.

CommPower's CP-145 Gateway

Throughout the world, e-mail based Military Messaging services have become an integral component of a modern Defense Command and Control infrastructure, providing the means through which commanders at all levels can effectively and securely communicate orders, instructions, and strategies. Unfortunately, true globalization of such services has not and probably cannot be realized due to differences in national implementations and the lack of a common end-to-end security policy. The CCEB (Combined Communications Electronics Board) has recognized this shortcoming and in response, has drafted a standard (ACP145) that details the requirements and functions of a nation-to-nation Military Messaging Gateway based on ACP123/X.400 technology and S/MIME-ESS security services. In turn, CommPower has taken this standard from paper to practice with the introduction of its CP-145 Gateway product.

The CP-145 Gateway consists of two subsystems, or "Elements", each of which offers a discrete X.400/P1 network interface: The Local Element provides connectivity to the local, national network, whereas the Foreign Element connects to the external network of the foreign nation. Messages received/transmitted on each network interface are processed in full per the security policy that governs the domain represented by the CP-145 Element.

Supported Security Standards: Two security standards are fully supported within the Gateway: S/MIME-ESS (Extended Security Services), and ACP120.

Security Features: For each security domain, compliant certificate path validation, CRL (revocation) processing, and encryption/decryption services are provided.

Security Policy Definition: Security Policy Information Files (SPIFs) can be created for each security domain that define the security policy in effect and enforce access control. Multiple policies can be supported for each security domain.

Security Label Translation: User configurable Security Policy Translation Tables (SPTTs) are used within the Gateway that define the security label translation rules between differing security policies. These tables are signed to prevent unauthorized/undetected tampering and thus can be posted with confidence to the X.500 directory for use by multiple CP-145 Gateways.

Message flow within the Gateway between the discrete Elements is accomplished via XML services that promote standardization, commerciality, and extensibility within the product. Core features of the CP-145 include the following:

Virus Checking: Third party anti-virus products can be invoked by the CP-145 to scan in-transit messages and their attachments for malicious content.
Relay Services: All received messages can be relayed in X.400 format to designated external systems for archival/record-management purposes.
Message Services: As with all CommPower Military Messaging products, the CP-145 offers full protection, accountability, and recovery for all messages within the Gateway.
Third Party Services: Third party capabilities such as profilers can be installed "in line" to perform additional processing on the XML message as it passes through the Gateway.
Extensibility: Because of the Gateway's modular architecture, a host of configurations can be realized to allow connectivity to one or more nations, each with a separate security translation policy.

Credits:

The CommPower CP-145 Gateway product was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense as the sole provider of ACP145 Gateway services for its Defense Message System (DMS) program. The product is currently undergoing full DMS-certification testing (scheduled to be complete by December 2005).

The U.S. Government is currently using the CommPower CP-145 Gateway product as part of a joint U.S./U.K. ACP145 interoperability exercise that began September 2005.

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Click here to download and view the special CP-145 Gateway PowerPoint presentation.
CommPower		Phone: +1 805-389-7414
1040 Flynn Road		FAX: +1 805-389-7419
Camarillo, CA 93012-8705		POC: kn@commpower.com
		October 2005

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