CA/Browser Forum

CA/Browser Forum is a voluntary organization of Certificate Authorities (CAs) and browser vendors, such as Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla, that work together to establish and maintain standards for the issuance and management of digital certificates. The forum's primary goal is to promote trust and security in the use of public key infrastructure (PKI) on the Internet, as outlined by Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) and World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). This is achieved through collaboration with other organizations, including the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) and the Internet Society (ISOC), to ensure the security and integrity of online transactions, as specified by Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

Introduction

The CA/Browser Forum was established to address the growing need for standardized practices and guidelines in the issuance and management of digital certificates, which are used to secure online communications between web servers and web browsers, such as Safari and Firefox. The forum's work is closely related to that of other organizations, including the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC), which develop and publish standards for information security and cryptographic techniques, such as Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). The forum's members, including VeriSign, GlobalSign, and DigiCert, work together to develop and implement guidelines and best practices for the issuance and management of digital certificates, as required by Federal Information Security Management Act (FISMA) and Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA).

History

The CA/Browser Forum was formed in response to the growing concern about the security and trustworthiness of digital certificates, which are used to secure online communications between web servers and web browsers, such as Chrome and Internet Explorer. The forum's early work was influenced by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA), which developed guidelines and standards for the use of public key cryptography and digital signatures, such as Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) and NSA Suite B Cryptography. The forum's members, including Comodo, Entrust, and GoDaddy, have worked together to develop and implement guidelines and best practices for the issuance and management of digital certificates, as required by Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and European Union (EU) regulations.

Membership and Governance

The CA/Browser Forum has a diverse membership, including Certificate Authorities (CAs), browser vendors, and other organizations, such as Amazon, Facebook, and Twitter, that have an interest in the security and trustworthiness of digital certificates. The forum is governed by a board of directors, which includes representatives from Apple, Cisco Systems, and IBM, and is advised by a technical committee, which includes experts from MIT, Stanford University, and University of California, Berkeley. The forum's members, including Symantec, Thawte, and Trustwave, work together to develop and implement guidelines and best practices for the issuance and management of digital certificates, as required by Payment Card Industry Security Standards Council (PCI SSC) and Health Information Trust Alliance (HITRUST).

Baseline Requirements

The CA/Browser Forum has developed a set of baseline requirements for the issuance and management of digital certificates, which include guidelines for certificate policy, certificate practice statement, and audit and compliance. These requirements are designed to ensure that digital certificates are issued and managed in a secure and trustworthy manner, as specified by American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). The forum's members, including Google, Microsoft, and Mozilla, work together to implement these requirements, which are also influenced by the work of other organizations, including the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

Extended Validation Guidelines

The CA/Browser Forum has also developed a set of extended validation (EV) guidelines for digital certificates, which include additional requirements for identity verification and certificate issuance. These guidelines are designed to provide an additional level of security and trustworthiness for digital certificates, as required by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and European Commission. The forum's members, including VeriSign, GlobalSign, and DigiCert, work together to implement these guidelines, which are also influenced by the work of other organizations, including the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the National Security Agency (NSA).

Compliance and Enforcement

The CA/Browser Forum has established a compliance and enforcement program to ensure that its members comply with the forum's guidelines and requirements. The program includes regular audits and inspections to ensure that digital certificates are issued and managed in a secure and trustworthy manner, as specified by Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) and Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act. The forum's members, including Comodo, Entrust, and GoDaddy, are required to comply with the forum's guidelines and requirements, and may face sanctions or penalties if they fail to do so, as enforced by Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and European Commission. The forum's work is closely related to that of other organizations, including the Internet Society (ISOC) and the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C), which develop and publish standards for information security and cryptographic techniques. Category:Organizations