Mission-oriented Authentication in a Multi-Domain Security Environment

Using Phase I SBIR funding, MAXIM Systems will perform a comprehensive study of identity management and authentication products to determine ideal solutions for the problems associated with Mission-oriented Authentication (MOA). MOA is a common problem in any environment where users, systems, devices, or processes are authenticated on one domain, but must get controlled information from another. Traditional solutions of using a common centralized directory of user privileges limits scalability, while a decentralized authentication approach of mutual trust between domains does not allow new users or systems to join in a dynamic way because of the uncertainty of their credentials. Problems of this nature arise within most every coalition warfare environment, particularly when users or systems from different host nations must share classified information in often unpredictable ways to accomplish their mission goals. The same types of problems occur in the commercial world with supply chain networks and other collaborative environments involving proprietary or trade secret information. As part of this work, MAXIM will identify best of breed technologies and develop a roadmap for an ideal multi and cross domain MOA solution and associated architecture using current technologies to the maximum degree possible.