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< html xmlns = "http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml" > < head > < title > Assurance Policy< / title >
< / head >
< body >
< h1 > Assurance Policy for CAcert Community Members< br >
< / h1 >
< p >
< a href = "PolicyOnPolicy.html" > < img src = "Images/cacert-wip.png" alt = "CAcert Policy Status" style = "border-style: none;" height = "31" width = "88" > < / a > < br >
Author: Ian Grigg< br >
Creation date: 2008-05-30< br >
Status: WIP 2008-05-30< br >
Next status: DRAFT June 2008< br >
< br >
< / p >
< h2 > 0. Preamble< / h2 >
< p >
Definitions of terms:
< / p >
< dl >
< dt > < em > Assurance< / em > < / dt >
< dd > Assurance is the process by which a Member of CAcert
Community (Assurer) identifies an individual (Assuree).
< br >
With sufficient assurances, a Member may (a) issue certificates with
their Names included, (b) participate in assuring others, and (c) other
related activities.
The strength of these activities is based on the strength of the
assurance. < / dd >
< dt > < em > Member< / em > < / dt >
< dd > An individual who has agreed to the
CAcert Community Agreement (CCA) and has created successfully a CAcert
(web)account on http://www.cacert.org.
< / dd >
< dt > < em > Name< / em > < / dt >
< dd > A Name is the full name (first
name(s), family name(s), name extensions,abreviation of name(s), etc.)
of an individual. The Name is technically spoken a string exactly taken
from a governemental issued photo ID. Transliteration of characters to
a character table defined by CAcert is permitted. < / dd >
< dt > < em > Secondary Distinguishing Feature< / em > (DoB)< / dt >
< dd > A Name for
an individual is discrimated from similar full names by a secondary
distinguished feature, as recorded on the on-line CAcert (web) account.
Currently this is the date of birth (DoB) of the individual.
< / dd >
< / dl >
< p >
< / p >
< h3 > The CAcert Web of Trust< / h3 >
< p >
Each assurance claims a number of Assurance Points, applied to the
assured Member or Member prospect.
By combining the assurances, and the Assurance Points, CAcert
constructs a global < em > Web of Trust< / em > ("WoT"). < / p >
< p > CAcert explicitly chooses to meet its various goals by
construction of a web-of-trust of all Members.
This is done by face-to-face meeting, identifying and sharing claims in
a network.
Maintaining a sufficient strength for the web-of-trust is a high-level
objective of the Assurance process. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h3 > Related Documentation< / h3 >
< p >
Documentation on Assurance is split between this Assurance Policy (AP)
and the < a target = "_blank" href = "http://wiki.cacert.org/wiki/AssuranceHandbook2" > Assurance
Handbook< / a > .
The policy is controlled by Configuration Control Specification (< a target = "_blank" href = "http://wiki.cacert.org/wiki/PolicyDrafts/ConfigurationControlSpecification" > CCS< / a > ) under Policy on Policy (< a target = "_blank" class = "http" href = "http://www.cacert.org/policy/PolicyOnPolicy.php" > PoP< / a > ) policy documents.
< br >
Because Assurance is an active area, much of the practice is handed
over to the Assurance Handbook, which is not a controlled document, and
can more easily respond to experience and circumstances.
It is also more readable. < / p >
< p > See also Organisation Assurance Policy (< a target = "_blank" class = "http" href = "http://www.cacert.org/policy/OrganisationAssurancePolicy.php" > OAP< / a > ) and CAcert Policy Statement (< a target = "_blank" class = "http" href = "http://svn.cacert.org/CAcert/policy.htm" > CPS< / a > ). < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h2 > 1. Purpose< / h2 >
< p >
The purpose of Assurance is to add confidence in the Assurance
Statement made of a Member by the CAcert Community. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h3 > The Assurance Statement< / h3 >
< p >
The following claims can be made about a person who is assured:
< / p >
< ol type = "1" >
< li > The person is a bona fide Member.
In other words, the person is a member of the CAcert community, as
defined by the CAcert Community Agreement (CCA).
< / li >
< li > The Member has a (login) (web)Account with CAcert's
on-line registration and service system. < / li >
< li > The Member can be determined from any certificate issued
by the Account. < / li >
< li > The Member is bound into CAcert's Arbitration (as defined
by the CCA).< / li >
< li > Some personal details of the Member (Name(s), primary and
other
listed email address(es), secundary distinguished feature (eg DoB)) are
known to CAcert. < / li >
< / ol >
< p > The confidence level of the Assurance Statement is expressed
by the Assurance Points. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h3 > Relying Party Statement< / h3 >
< p >
The primary goal of the Assurance Statement is to meet the needs of the
< em > Relying Party Statement< / em > , which latter is found in
the Certification Practice Statement (< a target = "_blank" class = "http" href = "http://svn.cacert.org/CAcert/policy.htm" > CPS< / a > )
for the express purpose of certificates. < / p >
< p > When a certificate is issued, some or all of the Assurance
Statement
may be incorporated (e.g., name) or implied (e.g., Membership or
status) into the certificate and be part of the < em > Relying
Party Statement< / em > .
In short, this means that other Members of the Community may rely on
the information verified by Assurance and found in the certificate. < / p >
< p > In particular, certificates are sometimes considered to
provide
reliable indications of the Member's Name.
The nature of Assurance, the number of Assurance Points, and other
policies and processes should be understood as limitations on any
reliance. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h2 > 2. The Member< / h2 >
< p >
< / p >
< h3 > Name(s)< / h3 >
< p >
The general standard is that the individual name of the Member is as
written on a government-issued Identity (photo) document. < / p >
< p > < em > For more details see the < a target = "_blank" href = "http://wiki.cacert.org/wiki/PolicyDrafts/PolicyOnNames" > Policy
Drafts Policy On Names< / a > , where the discussion is carried on.
This page will be copied into here when the discussion is complete.< / em >
< / p >
< p > < / p >
< p > The technical form of a Name is a string of characters. It
should be exactly copied from a governemental-issued photo ID.
Transliteration of characters to a character table defined by Assurance
Officer is permitted.
< / p >
< strong > Multiple Names< / strong >
< br >
A Member may have multiple individual Names.
For example, married name, variations of initials of first or middle
names, abbreviation of a first name, different language or country
variations and transliterations of characters in a name.
Each individual Name must be assured to the applicable level.
That is, each Name to 50 Assurance Points to be used in a certificate.
< br >
For an Assurer at least one Name must have at least to 100 Assurance
Points.
< p > < / p >
< h3 > Capabilities< / h3 >
< p >
A Member has the following capabilities derived from Assurance:
< / p >
< div >
< table border = "1" cellpadding = "5" cellspacing = "0" >
< tbody >
< / tbody > < caption align = "bottom" > Assurance
Capability table< / caption >
< tbody >
< tr align = "left" >
< td width = "10%" > < em > Minimum Assurance Points< / em > < / td >
< td width = "25%" > < em > Capability< / em > < / td >
< td width = "65%" > < em > Comment< / em > < / td >
< / tr >
< tr align = "left" valign = "top" >
< td align = "center" > 0< / td >
< td > request un-named certificates< / td >
< td > although the Member's details are recorded in the
account, they are not highly assured.< / td >
< / tr >
< tr align = "left" valign = "top" >
< td align = "center" > 50< / td >
< td > request named certificates< / td >
< td > the name and Assurance Statement is assured to 50
Assurance Points or more< / td >
< / tr >
< tr align = "left" valign = "top" >
< td align = "center" > 100< / td >
< td > become an Assurer< / td >
< td > assured to 100 Assurance Points or more, and other
requirements listed below< / td >
< / tr >
< / tbody >
< / table >
< / div >
< p >
The CAcert Policy Statement (CPS) and other policies may list other
capabilities that rely on Assurance Points. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h2 > 3. The Assurer< / h2 >
< p >
An Assurer is a Member with the following: < / p >
< ul >
< li > is assured to a minimum of 100 Assurance Points, < / li >
< li > has passed the Assurer Challenge. < / li >
< / ul >
< p >
The Assurer Challenge is administered by the Education Team on behalf
of the Assurance Officer. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h3 > The Obligations of the Assurer< / h3 >
< p >
The Assurer is obliged to: < / p >
< ul >
< li > Follow this Assurance Policy; < / li >
< li > Follow any additional rules of detail laid out by the
Assurance Officer; < / li >
< li >
< p > Be guided by the < a target = "_blank" href = "http://wiki.cacert.org/wiki/AssuranceHandbook2" > Assurance
Handbook< / a > in their judgement; < / p >
< / li >
< li > Make a good faith effort at identifying and verifying
Members; < / li >
< li > Maintain the documentation on each Assurance; < / li >
< li > Deliver documentation to Arbitration, or as otherwise
directed by the Arbitrator;
< / li >
< li > Keep up-to-date with developments within the CAcert
Community. < / li >
< / ul >
< p >
< / p >
< h2 > 4. The Assurance< / h2 >
< p >
< / p >
< h3 > The Assurance Process< / h3 >
< p >
The Assurer conducts the process of Assurance with each Member. < / p >
< p > The process consists of:
< / p >
< ol type = "1" >
< li > Voluntary agreement by both Assurer and Member or prospect
Member to conduct the Assurance; < / li >
< li > Personal meeting of Assurer and Member or prospect Member;
< / li >
< li > Recording of essential details on CAP form (below); < / li >
< li > Examination of Identity documents by Assurer and
verification of recorded details (Name(s) and Secondary Distinguishing
Feature, e.g., DoB);< / li >
< li > Allocation of Assurance Points by Assurer; < / li >
< li > Optional: supervision of reciprocal Assurance made by
Assuree (Mutual Assurance);
< / li >
< li > Safe keeping of the CAP forms by Assurer. < / li >
< / ol >
< p >
< / p >
< h3 > Mutual Assurance< / h3 >
< p >
Mutual Assurance follows the principle of reciprocity.
This means that the Assurance may be two-way, and that each member
participating in the Assurance procedure should be able to show
evidence of their identity to the other. < / p >
< p > In the event that an Assurer is assured by a Member who is not
certified as an Assurer, the Assurer supervises the Assurance procedure
and process, and is responsible for the results. < / p >
< p > Reciprocity maintains a balance between the (new) Member and
the Assurer, and reduces any sense of power.
It is also an important aid to the assurance training for future
Assurers. < / p >
< p > < em > Evidence of Assurer status< / em >
< br >
On the question of providing evidence that one is an Assurer, CAcert
Policy Statement (< a target = "_blank" class = "http" href = "http://svn.cacert.org/CAcert/policy.htm#p3.2" > CPS< / a > )
says:< em > The level at which each Member is Assured is public
data. The number of Assurance Points for each Member is not published.< / em > .
< / p >
< p > < / p >
< h3 > Assurance Points< / h3 >
< p >
The Assurance applies Assurance Points to each Member which measure the
increase of confidence in the Statement (above).
Assurance Points should not be interpreted for any other purpose.
Note that, even though they are sometimes referred to as < em > Web-of-Trust< / em >
(Assurance) Points, or < em > Trust< / em > Points, the meaning
of the word 'trust' is not well defined. < / p >
< p > < em > Assurance Points Allocation.< / em >
< br >
An Assurer can allocate a number of Assurance Points to the Member
according to the Assurer's experience (Experience Point system, see
below).
The allocation of the maximum means that the Assurer is 100% confident
in the information presented:
< / p >
< ul >
< li > Detail on form, system, documents, person in accordance; < / li >
< li > Sufficient quality identity documents have been checked; < / li >
< li > Assurer's familiarity with identity documents;
< / li >
< li > The Assurance Statement is confirmed. < / li >
< / ul >
< p > Any lesser confidence should result in less Assurance Points
for a Name. If the Assurer has no confidence in the information
presented, then < em > zero < / em > Assurance Points may be
allocated by the Assurer. For example, this may happen if the
identity documents are totally unfamiliar to the Assurer.
The number of Assurance Points from < em > zero< / em > to < em > maximum
< / em > is guided by the Assurance Handbook and the judgement of
the Assurer. < / p >
< p > Multiple Names should be allocated separately in a single
Assurance.
That is, the Assurer may allocate the maximum to one Name, half that
amount to another Name, and zero to a third Name. < / p >
< p > A (new) Member who is not an Assurer may award an Assurer in a
reciprocal process a maximum of 2 Assurance Points, according to his
judgement.
The Assurer should strive to have the Member allocate according to the
Member's judgement, and stay on the cautious side; a (new) Member new
to the assurance process should allocate < em > zero< / em >
Assurance Points until they get some confidence in what is happening. < / p >
< p > No Assurance process can give more than 50 Assurance Points
per Name.
This means that to reach 50 Assurance Points (certificate with a Name),
a Member must have been assured at least once.
To reach 100 Assurance Points, at least one Name of the Member must
have been assured at least twice. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h3 > Experience Points< / h3 >
< p >
The maximum number of Assurance Points that may be awarded by an
Assurer is determined by the Experience Points of the Assurer.
< / p >
< div >
< table border = "1" cellspacing = "0" width = "15%" >
< caption align = "bottom" > Assurance Points table< / caption >
< tbody >
< tr >
< td > < em > Assurer's Experience Points< / em > < / td >
< td > < em > Allocatable Assurance Points< / em > < / td >
< / tr >
< tr align = "center" >
< td > 0< / td >
< td > 10< / td >
< / tr >
< tr align = "center" >
< td > 10< / td >
< td > 15< / td >
< / tr >
< tr align = "center" >
< td > 20< / td >
< td > 20< / td >
< / tr >
< tr align = "center" >
< td > 30< / td >
< td > 25< / td >
< / tr >
< tr align = "center" >
< td > 40< / td >
< td > 30< / td >
< / tr >
< tr align = "center" >
< td > > =50< / td >
< td > 35< / td >
< / tr >
< / tbody >
< / table >
< / div >
< p >
An Assurer is given a maximum of 2 Experience Points for every
completed Assurance.
On reaching Assurer status, the Experience Points start at zero.
< / p >
< p > Less Experience Points (1) may be given for mass Assurance
events, where each Assurance is quicker.
< / p >
< p > Additional Experience Points may be granted temporarily or
permanently
to an Assurer by CAcert Inc's Board, on recommendation from the
Assurance Officer. < / p >
< p > Experience Points are not to be confused with Assurance
Points. < / p >
< p > < em > Comment: this part still needs to be agreed.< / em >
< / p >
< p > < / p >
< h3 > CAcert Assurance Programme (CAP) form< / h3 >
< p >
The CAcert Assurance Programme (CAP) form requests the following
details of each Member or prospect Member:
< / p >
< ul >
< li > Name(s), as recorded in the on-line account;
< / li >
< li > Primary email address, as recorded in the on-line account; < / li >
< li > Secondary Distinguishing Feature, as recorded in the
on-line account (normally, date of birth);
< / li >
< li > Statement of agreement with the CAcert Community Agreement
(CCA); < / li >
< li > Permission to the Assurer to conduct the Assurance
(required for privacy reasons); < / li >
< li > Date and signature of the Assuree.
< / li >
< / ul >
The CAP form requests the following details of the Assurer:
< ul >
< li > At least one Name as recorded in the on-line account of the
Assurer;
< / li >
< li > Assurance Points for each Name in the identity document(s);
< / li >
< li > Statement of Assurance;< / li >
< li > Optional: If the Assurance is reciprocal, then the
Assurer's email address and Secondary Distinguishing Feature are
required as well.
< / li >
< li > Date, location of Assurance and signature of Assurer.
< / li >
< / ul >
< p >
The CAP forms are to be kept at least for 7 years by the Assurer. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h2 > 5. The Assurance Officer< / h2 >
< p >
The Commitee (Board) of CAcert Inc. appoints an Assurance Officer with
the following responsibilities:
< / p >
< ul >
< li > Reporting to the Board and advising on all matters to do
with Assurance; < / li >
< li > Training and testing of Assurers, in association with the
Education Team; < / li >
< li >
Updating this Assurance Policy, under the process established by Policy on Policy (< a target = "_blank" class = "https" href = "https://www.cacert.org/policy/PolicyOnPolicy.php" > PoP< / a > );
< / li >
< li >
Management of all Subsidiary Policies (see below) for Assurances, under Policy on Policy (
< a target = "_blank" class = "https" href = "https://www.cacert.org/policy/PolicyOnPolicy.php" > PoP< / a > );
< / li >
< li > Managing and creating rules of detail or procedure where
inappropriate for policies;
< / li >
< li > Incorporating rulings from Arbitration into policies,
procedures or guidelines;
< / li >
< li > Assisting the Arbitrator in any requests;
< / li >
< li > Managing the Assurer Handbook; < / li >
< li > Maintaining a sufficient strength in the Assurance process
(web-of-trust) to meet the agreed needs of the Community. < / li >
< / ul >
< p >
< / p >
< h2 > 6. Subsidiary Policies< / h2 >
< p >
The Assurance Officer manages various exceptions and additional
processes.
Each must be covered by an approved Subsidiary Policy (refer to Policy
on Policy => COD1).
Subsidiary Policies specify any additional tests of knowledge required
and variations to process and documentation, within the general
standard stated here. < / p >
< p > Examples of expected subsidiary policies are these:
< / p >
< ul >
< li >
< em > Remote Assurer Check;< / em > < / li >
< li >
< em > Super Assurer Policy;< / em > < / li >
< li >
< em > Junior Assurer Policy;< / em > < / li >
< li >
< em > Code Signing Policy;< / em > < / li >
< li > < em > Organisation Assurance Policy and sub-policies
per country or region.< / em >
< / li >
< / ul >
< p >
< / p >
< h3 > Standard< / h3 >
< p >
Each Subsidiary Policy must augment and improve the general standards
in this Assurance Policy.
It is the responsibility of each Subsidiary Policy to describe how it
maintains and improves the specific and overall goals.
It must describe exceptions and potential areas of risk. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h3 > High Risk Applications< / h3 >
< p >
In addition to the Assurance or Experience Points ratings set here in
and in other policies, Assurance Officer or policies can designate
certain applications as high risk.
If so, additional measures may be added to the Assurance process that
specifically address the risks.
These may include:
< / p >
< dl >
< dt > Additional information< / dt >
< dd > Additional information can be required in process of
assurance:
< ul >
< li > Unique numbers of identity documents; < / li >
< li > Photocopy of identity documents; < / li >
< li > Photo of User; < / li >
< li > Address of User. < / li >
< / ul >
< / dd >
< / dl >
< p >
Additional Information is to be kept by Assurer, attached to CAP form.
Assurance Points allocation by this assurance is unchanged.
User's CAcert (web)account should be annotated to record type of
additional information:
< / p >
< ul >
< li > Arbitration:
< ul >
< li > Member to participate in Arbitration. This confirms
their acceptance of the forum as well as trains in the process and
import. < / li >
< li > Member to file Arbitration to present case. This allows
Arbitrator as final authority. < / li >
< / ul >
< / li >
< li class = "gap" > Additional training;
< / li >
< li class = "gap" > Member to be Assurer (> = 100
Assurance Points and passed Assurer Challenge); < / li >
< li class = "gap" > Member agrees to additional specific
agreement(s); < / li >
< li class = "gap" > Additional checking/auditing of systems
data by CAcert support administrators; < / li >
< / ul >
< p >
Applications that might attract additonal measures include code-signing
certificates and administration roles. < / p >
< p > < / p >
< h2 > Privacy< / h2 >
< p >
CAcert is a "privacy" organisation, and takes the privacy of its
Members seriously.
The process maintains the security and privacy of both parties. < / p >
< p > Information is collected primarily to make claims within the
certificates requested by users and to contact the Members.
< br >
It is used secondarily for training, testing, administration and other
internal purposes. < / p >
< p > The Member's information can be accessed under these
circumstances: < / p >
< ul >
< li >
Under Arbitrator ruling, in a duly filed dispute (< a target = "_blank" class = "http" href = "http://www.cacert.org/policy/DisputeResolutionPolicy.html" > Dispute
Resolution Policy< / a > => COD7) < / li >
< li > An Assurer in the process of an Assurance, as permitted on
the CAP form. < / li >
< li > CAcert support administration and CAcert systems
administration
when operating under the authority of Arbitrator or under CAcert
policy. < / li >
< / ul >
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