ISO/TR 17068:2012
(Main)Information and documentation - Trusted third party repository for digital records
Information and documentation - Trusted third party repository for digital records
ISO/TR 17068:2012 details the authorized custody services of a Trusted Third Party Repository (TTPR) in order to ensure provable integrity and authenticity of the clients' digital records and serve as a source of reliable evidence. It describes the services and processes to be provided by a TTPR for the clients' digital records during the retention period, to ensure trust. It also details the criteria of "trustworthiness" and the particular requirements of TTPR services, hardware and software systems, and management. ISO/TR 17068:2012 has the limitation that the authorized custody of the stored records is between only the third party and the client.
Information et documentation — Référentiel tiers de confiance pour les enregistrements électroniques
Informatika in dokumentacija - Repozitorij za digitalne zapise zaupanja vredne tretje strani
To tehnično poročilo podrobneje opisuje storitve pooblaščenega skrbništva nad repozitorijem zaupanja vredne tretje strani (TTPR), ki zagotavlja dokazljivo neoporečnost in pristnost digitalnih zapisov strank ter služi kot vir zanesljivih dokazov. Opisuje storitve in postopke, ki jih med obdobjem obvezne hrambe za digitalne zapise strank omogoča repozitorij zaupanja vredne tretje strani in ki zagotavljajo zaupanje. Podrobno navede tudi merila »zaupljivosti« in posebne zahteve za storitve repozitorija zaupanja vredne tretje strani, programske in strojne opreme ter upravljanja. To tehnično poročilo je omejeno s tem, da pooblaščeno skrbništvo nad shranjenimi zapisi urejata samo tretja stran in stranka.
General Information
- Status
- Withdrawn
- Publication Date
- 21-Oct-2012
- Withdrawal Date
- 21-Oct-2012
- Technical Committee
- ISO/TC 46/SC 11 - Archives/records management
- Drafting Committee
- ISO/TC 46/SC 11 - Archives/records management
- Current Stage
- 9599 - Withdrawal of International Standard
- Start Date
- 30-Oct-2017
- Completion Date
- 12-Feb-2026
Relations
- Revised
ISO 17068:2017 - Information and documentation — Trusted third party repository for digital records - Effective Date
- 14-Jun-2014
Frequently Asked Questions
ISO/TR 17068:2012 is a technical report published by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Its full title is "Information and documentation - Trusted third party repository for digital records". This standard covers: ISO/TR 17068:2012 details the authorized custody services of a Trusted Third Party Repository (TTPR) in order to ensure provable integrity and authenticity of the clients' digital records and serve as a source of reliable evidence. It describes the services and processes to be provided by a TTPR for the clients' digital records during the retention period, to ensure trust. It also details the criteria of "trustworthiness" and the particular requirements of TTPR services, hardware and software systems, and management. ISO/TR 17068:2012 has the limitation that the authorized custody of the stored records is between only the third party and the client.
ISO/TR 17068:2012 details the authorized custody services of a Trusted Third Party Repository (TTPR) in order to ensure provable integrity and authenticity of the clients' digital records and serve as a source of reliable evidence. It describes the services and processes to be provided by a TTPR for the clients' digital records during the retention period, to ensure trust. It also details the criteria of "trustworthiness" and the particular requirements of TTPR services, hardware and software systems, and management. ISO/TR 17068:2012 has the limitation that the authorized custody of the stored records is between only the third party and the client.
ISO/TR 17068:2012 is classified under the following ICS (International Classification for Standards) categories: 01.140.20 - Information sciences. The ICS classification helps identify the subject area and facilitates finding related standards.
ISO/TR 17068:2012 has the following relationships with other standards: It is inter standard links to ISO 17068:2017. Understanding these relationships helps ensure you are using the most current and applicable version of the standard.
ISO/TR 17068:2012 is available in PDF format for immediate download after purchase. The document can be added to your cart and obtained through the secure checkout process. Digital delivery ensures instant access to the complete standard document.
Standards Content (Sample)
SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-julij-2013
Informatika in dokumentacija - Repozitorij za digitalne zapise zaupanja vredne
tretje strani
Information and documentation - Trusted third party repository for digital records
Information et documentation -- Référentiel tiers de confiance pour les enregistrements
électroniques
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: ISO/TR 17068:2012
ICS:
01.140.20 Informacijske vede Information sciences
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.
TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 17068
First edition
2012-11-01
Information and documentation -
Trusted third party repository for
digital records
Information et documentation — Référentiel tiers de confiance pour
les enregistrements électroniques
Reference number
©
ISO 2012
© ISO 2012
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the
address below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Terms and definitions . 1
3 Overview of a TTPR . 3
3.1 Necessity for a TTPR . 3
3.2 Requirements for trustworthiness . 4
3.3 TTPR components . 5
3.4 Characteristics of a TTPR . 6
4 TTPR services . 6
4.1 Service procedure . 6
4.2 TTPR service contracts . 6
4.3 TTPR services. 9
5 System requirements .18
5.1 General .18
5.2 Digital record repository system .18
5.3 Transmitter-receiver system .18
5.4 Network system .19
5.5 Time-stamping system .19
5.6 Trail management system .19
5.7 Security system of network system .20
5.8 Access control equipment .20
5.9 Disaster protection facility .20
5.10 System for certificate issuance and validation of digital record .20
5.11 Backup system .22
5.12 Remote repository system .22
6 Management requirements .22
6.1 General .22
6.2 Client management .22
6.3 Administrator’s role and authority management .23
6.4 Network and security management .23
6.5 Digital record management .24
6.6 Management of transmitted and received messages .26
6.7 Audit record management .27
6.8 Data backup and recovery management .28
6.9 Security management .29
6.10 Migration and receipt management .29
6.11 Client system management .30
Bibliography .32
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
In exceptional circumstances, when a technical committee has collected data of a different kind from
that which is normally published as an International Standard (“state of the art”, for example), it may
decide by a simple majority vote of its participating members to publish a Technical Report. A Technical
Report is entirely informative in nature and does not have to be reviewed until the data it provides are
considered to be no longer valid or useful.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/TR 17068 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 46, Information and documentation,
Subcommittee SC 11, Archives/records management.
iv © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
Introduction
As digital records are the inevitable by-products of various business activities in electronic and/or
digital systems, there is an increasing need to secure the legal admissibility of digital records during
their period of retention. It is internationally agreed that “digital records shall not be denied validity or
1)
enforceability of legal recognition by reason of their format alone” . Despite this, it may be very difficult
for an organization to assert that its digital records are authentic and able to act as effective evidence
of business action over a long period. In many cases legal admissibility of digital records managed by
organizations’ records systems may not be ensured. As a result, there is a growing need for certification
services for digital records by neutral third parties.
In order to protect digital records from business disputes during the period they are required for
sustaining legal obligation and ongoing retention, it is essential to ensure that the authenticity, reliability
and integrity of digital records endures.
Digital signatures are a well-known means of maintaining the integrity of digital records. However, as a
digital signature can only ensure integrity within its validity time (generally one to two years or less),
most digitally signed records cannot ensure their integrity for longer than this validity time. As a result,
it may be very difficult for an individual record system to prove the integrity of their digital records for
the period of retention obligation, where this is longer than the validity period of the digital signature.
A possible solution can be provided by a Trusted Third Party Repository (TTPR) service.
A TTPR is defined as a set of services, systems and personnel that ensure that digital records, entrusted
to it by a client, remain and can be asserted to be reliable and authentic, with the aim of providing
reliable access to managed digital records to its clients for the period of obligation for retention. A TTPR
for digital records should provide trustworthy services for clients, which can be examined by interested
parties (i.e. inspector, auditor, evaluator). These TTPR services are helpful to identify the evidence
admissibility of clients’ digital records as a source of evidence.
This Technical Report describes the specific requirements for the trustworthy services provided by a
TTPR. Its main purpose is to ensure that digital records can retain the relevant evidence and information
in an ensured and trusted manner during the required period of retention.
1) UNCITRAL 200t, United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communication in International Contracts.
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 17068:2012(E)
Information and documentation - Trusted third party
repository for digital records
1 Scope
This Technical Report details the authorized custody services of a Trusted Third Party Repository
(TTPR) in order to ensure provable integrity and authenticity of the clients’ digital records and serve as
a source of reliable evidence.
It describes the services and processes to be provided by a TTPR for the clients’ digital records during
the retention period, to ensure trust. It also details the criteria of “trustworthiness” and the particular
requirements of TTPR services, hardware and software systems, and management.
This Technical Report has the limitation that the authorized custody of the stored records is between
only the third party and the client.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
client
individual or organization that contracts with the TTPR and obtains permission to use the TTPR services
2.2
client system
hardware and software used by a client to use the service provided by the TTPR
2.3
digital record
information in any format created, received and maintained by digital means, used as evidence and
information by an organization or person, in pursuance of legal obligations or in the transaction of business
NOTE Adapted from ISO 15489-1:2001.
2.4
digital signature
data appended to, or a cryptographic transformation of, a data unit that allows a recipient of the data unit
to prove the source and integrity of the unit and protect against forgery by, for example, the recipient
NOTE Adapted from ISO 7498-2:1989.
2.5
information package
content information and associated preservation description information which is needed to aid in the
identification and preservation of the authentic and reliable digital records
NOTE 1 The information package has associated packaging information used to delimit and identify the
content information and preservation description information.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO 14721:2012.
2.6
process
series of actions or events taking place in a defined manner leading to the provision of TTPR services
2.7
public key certificate
digitally-signed statement that binds the value of a public key to the identity of the person, device or
service that holds the corresponding private key
NOTE Certificates are issued and signed by a certification authority (CA). The entity that receives a certificate
from a CA is the subject of that certificate.
2.8
service level agreement
SLA
written agreement between a service provider and a client that documents services and agreed service levels
NOTE Adapted from ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011.
2.9
system
hardware and software of the TTPR
2.10
trusted archival information package
TAIP
information package, consisting of the content information, creator’s digital signature and a TTPR or
third party’s timestamp, and the associated preservation description information, which is preserved
in a TTPR after verification
2.11
trusted dissemination information package
TDIP
information package, derived from one or more TAIPs, received by a client in response to a request to a TTPR
2.12
trusted submission information package
TSIP
information package that is delivered by a client to a TTPR with creator’s and sender’s digital signature
and a TTPR or third party’s timestamp, delivering the time and information of the sender
NOTE 1 Herein, the digital signature is prepared using the public key certificate and the time stamp is created
in accordance with the time stamping module provided by a TTPR.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO/TS 15000-2:2004.
2.13
trusted third party repository
TTPR
set of services, systems and personnel that ensure that the digital records entrusted to it by a client
remain and can be asserted to be reliable and authentic
NOTE This has the goal of providing reliable access to managed digital records to its clients in the period of
obligation for retention.
2.14
TTPR certificate
digital document issued to authenticate the digital record in the TTPR
2.15
TTPR service
intangible product that is the result of at least one activity performed at the interface between a
TTPR and a client
NOTE Adapted from ISO 9000:2005.
2 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
2.16
third party
person or body that is recognized as being independent of the parties involved, as concerns the
issue in question
2.17
trustworthiness
quality (of a TTPR) of being dependable and reliable
NOTE A trustworthy TTPR can be trusted to deliver its services in an authentic manner by following
documented policies and processes and ensuring the accuracy, reliability and authenticity of the records in the
repository over time.
3 Overview of a TTPR
3.1 Necessity for a TTPR
With the development and advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) over the
last two decades, the use of digital records has increased greatly. Accordingly, the number of electronic
transactions carried out by individuals and organizations in their daily activities has increased. For
example, in international transactions, many documents and records in digital formats are exchanged
in order to initiate, process and complete transactions between importers and exporters. Banks are also
involved in electronic records exchanges to confirm credit or payment. In the health industry, treatment
records are exchanged between clinics or patients and insurance companies; order of treatment records
are exchanged between general clinics and specialized clinics. These kinds of individual or organizational
transactions are very common within one sector or across several industries. During these transactions,
digital records can be easily copied, modified and distributed by an unauthorized person. This aspect of
documents and records retained in digital formats may create the risk of alteration or forgery, and has
raised awareness of the need for the secure management and transaction of digital records.
To help prevent possible risks, some countries have enacted laws and regulations requiring provable
authenticity, reliability, integrity and accessibility as a precondition for legal effect and enforceability
of digital records. These regulations explain the requirements for adopting secured digital records
and for judging their evidential admissibility. However, these requirements only typically describe the
mandatory characteristics that retained digital records need to have, regardless of an organization’s
records management capability. While many organizations have implemented a records system for
themselves, implementation of electronic records exchange across organizations often faces a number
of challenges. Individuals are also limited in their ability to comply with legal requirements for the
admissibility of their digital records. This limitation might cause social problems, delay operational
processes, reduce efficiency and prevent electronic exchange.
Therefore, as the exchange of secure records becomes more significant for individual and/or
organizational collaboration, the social demand for a trustworthy electronic transaction environment
has emerged as one of the major issues in digital environments today. Protecting information in digital
records is beginning to be regarded as an indispensable precondition for operational efficiency and
economic benefit in organizations across all sectors and industries.
One way of resolving this situation is to build and use a TTPR. A third party is an independent
individual or organization that is separate from the direct interests of mutual parties, and that acts as
an intermediary when two parties are exchanging digital information in a secure manner. Society and
governments should be in a position to trust the third party. To prevent any complications that may
arise during electronic transactions, a TTPR operates systems and facilities and follows well-defined
procedures according to the principles and guidelines for managing digital records in a secure manner.
During these processes, the TTPR ensures the authenticity, reliability, integrity and usability of digital
records, for the period of the contracted service. In addition, the TTPR provides an official source of
digital records that are admissible as evidence from a third party in the event of a dispute between
parties regarding their records.
TTPRs can play a significant role and provide several benefits to parties involved. A TTPR could
provide document digitization services for converting paper documents into digital records with legal
admissibility. It could also provide services for managing digital records. A TTPR is endowed with
authorized custody over the stored records. A TTPR also provides certification services by authenticating
digital documents and issuing certifications on documents processed and retained by the TTPR.
Furthermore, a TTPR works as an intermediary to provide a secure exchange of digital records between
creators, senders and receivers in many forms of electronic transactions (e.g. one-to-one party, one-to-
many parties, many-to-many parties in business transactions and operational workflows). As such, a
TTPR can provide a public service for secure electronic information exchange between individuals or
organizations.
As a result, a TTPR can have a role in the management of digital records produced or received in both
the public and the private sector. The TTPR helps reduce the cost of constructing and operating internal
repositories by enabling the outsourcing aspects of electronic records management. Recently, with
the increasing popularity of cloud computing service environments, the shift from traditional records
management to service-oriented approaches is appropriate. Therefore, TTPR services can be helpful for
effective and efficient management of digital records.
3.2 Requirements for trustworthiness
The trustworthiness requirements of the TTPR should meet the high level requirements in terms of
authenticity, reliability and integrity described in ISO 15489 (all parts) and should follow the legal
requirements for electronic communications formulated by UNCITRAL. Moreover, these requirements
need to extend to information packages driven from the reference model for information archival
suggested in ISO 14721 for the purpose of reliable custody.
A TTPR should follow the trustworthiness requirements broken down into the attributes of authenticity,
reliability and integrity described below:
— The authenticity of the client’s digital records is accounted for in a business context, for example,
the creators’ place of business at time of creation of the record should be retained. The TTPR should
be able to check this.
— The TTPR should agree with the client regarding the client’s role and responsibility for
authenticity during the service contract period. When the TTPR checks the state of authenticity
of the clients’ records, the client should be able to account for this. If a client can’t account for the
authenticity of its digital records, the TTPR should not classify those digital records as authentic.
— The authenticity of digital records created by the client is maintained using the timestamp and
digital signature applied at the time of ‘freezing’ the record. To ensure this, the clients’ digital
records system should attach the timestamp to created records, sourced from the time stamping
module provided by the TTPR. Also it should attach the clients’ digital signature to the digital
records. Using this digital signature, digital records that have been falsified can be recognized
immediately, and consequentially, their authenticity and integrity can be challenged.
— The reliability of digital records can be confirmed by verifying the custody of digital records.
However, the TTPR should specify only where the custody is between the TTPR and its clients.
— A client should transfer digital records to the TTPR as a package in the form of a Trusted
Submission Information Package (TSIP).
— The TTPR should confirm the reliable custody of clients’ digital records by validating received
clients’ TSIP regarding any change in the digital records and/or any transmission errors.
— The integrity of digital records should be retained after creation for the period of retention. After
confirming the authenticity and reliability requirements from transmitted digital records, the
TTPR should maintain the integrity for the period of retention by registering these records as a
TAIP package (i.e. the information package of the TTPR’s signed registration metadata, the attached
clients’ digital records and evidential history).
4 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
The TTPR should retain and manage the registration metadata, including the time of registration,
retention period, client information, the history of digital records, etc. In order to be able to confirm
trustworthiness of the stored digital records, the TTPR should be able to document key processes in the
management of digital records, such as acquisition, retention, distribution, delivery and migration and
disposition, and provide the document to a client as proof when requested.
3.3 TTPR components
A TTPR comprises services, systems and personnel as shown in Figure 1.
Services are provided to a client by the TTPR after the client has been authorized to use the TTPR
service through a contract. The TTPR should provide all the services specified in the contract to the
client, to the agreed quality level. The client should also fulfil all the obligations in the contract. For
example, the client should include the metadata required for validation of the authenticity of digital
records into information packages. The TTPR should be able to verify the authenticity of the transmitted
digital records. Besides the service provider and the client, there are other parties indirectly related
to the TTPR, for example, the inspector, auditor, evaluator. They are referred to as interested parties.
The inspector is an individual/organization that reviews technical issues in detail to determine
whether the digital records stored in a TTPR have legal evidential admissibility. The auditor is an
individual/organization that audits and monitors whether a TTPR is managed according to the defined
procedures and guidelines. The evaluator is an individual/organization that mainly judges whether a
software/hardware system satisfies the necessary functional requirements. The evaluator checks and
verifies the TTPR based on objective and formally established criteria, to provide the basis by which
TTPR can secure the confidence of its clients.
The software/hardware system fulfils its role as a tool, allowing the TTPR to maintain trustworthiness
and provide different services required by clients. The transmission system, which allows the
client’s created digital record to be transmitted reliably with integrity, the verification system which
automatically validates the metadata required for authenticity check during the acquisition stage, and
the repository system for the retention and management of the digital record, are included in such
software/hardware system. Also, the client’s system is necessary for the TTPR to maintain a safe and
reliable transmission channel and use a standardized transmission package.
The TTPR’s personnel have two main tasks: management and marketing. The management task operates
software/hardware to provide the TTPR services and preserves service quality. The marketing task
performs public relations and collects the clients’ requirements.
Figure 1 — TTPR Overview
3.4 Characteristics of a TTPR
For a TTPR to be a reliable agent of digital record management for clients, the TTPR should be capable
of providing consistent and stable service, have specialized competence to guarantee the evidential
admissibility of the digital records, and maintain neutrality toward all parties. The basic characteristics
required of the TTPR are divided into three aspects: stability, expertise and neutrality.
Stability: For consistent management of the stored digital records consigned to the TTPR and to provide
trustworthiness to the client, a TTPR should ensure stability. A TTPR should have sufficient capital and
human resources, a management strategy and execution capability. Furthermore, the TTPR should be
able to store, maintain and manage digital records normally, even in an emergency situation. To ensure
this capacity, the TTPR should have in place a disaster protection and recovery system.
Expertise: A TTPR should have expertise in coping with all the matters related to digital records.
Expertise is the essential attribute of the TTPR in ensuring the authenticity, reliability, integrity and
usability of their client’s digital records. The maintenance and management of a safe and efficient digital
record management system is also based on such expertise. The TTPR should employ experts and be
equipped with specialized processes and systems to ensure its own expertise. Specialized procedures
should be established for activities related to digital record management, such as acquisition, archiving,
certification, delivery and migration and disposition of the digital record. The TTPR should be equipped
with a specialized system to provide functions related to digital record management, such as metadata
processing, reliable messaging, security, digital signatures, time-stamps, etc.
Neutrality: A TTPR should maintain its neutrality toward all parties. A TTPR will only be recognized
within society if its neutrality is maintained. In addition, a TTPR should satisfy the guidelines and
requirements proposed in this Technical Report, and should be independent in its performance of
reliable digital record management, regardless of any external pressure; political institution, client
organization and all the stakeholders.
4 TTPR services
4.1 Service procedure
After the formation of a contract between a client and a TTPR, the client should construct a system
by adopting modules or specifications provided by the TTPR, whose functions are packaging digital
records, attaching a digital signature and transmitting the digital records. After constructing the client
system, the client can transmit digital records packaged in the form of a TSIP to the TTPR through the
transmission channel at a specific time or at any time, according to the contract. When the TTPR receives
the package, it verifies the package and its integrity. If there are no problems, the TTPR repackages the
submitted package into a TAIP and places it in digital storage. The client may request an authenticity
certificate or confirmation documents to prove that the digital records have reached each stage of
submission without problems.
A TTPR has a facility to migrate the digital records stored in the TTPR to other TTPRs, or to the client
who owns the records. When the agreed period of the digital records’ storage expires or the client
requests the disposition of the records, the TTPR will dispose of the records.
4.2 TTPR service contracts
4.2.1 General
A TTPR should contract with a client to provide services to the client. The contract should specify
the engagement of the service type, the service period, the authority and duty of the client, and the
responsibility of the TTPR. In particular, a TTPR service contract should clearly state whether the client
needs to provide information to the TTPR to prove the authenticity of digital records submitted by them,
to enable the TTPR to meet its responsibility as a provider of trustworthy services. It is recommended
that the contract includes a service level agreement (SLA) between a client and a TTPR. An SLA should
clarify the quality factors and the levels of TTPR services agreed by the client and the TTPR. An SLA
6 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
may also describe the method and amount of compensation when the TTPR does not meet the service
level agreed in the SLA. The contract may also fix the TTPR’s authority or determine the limitation
of the client’s accountability/responsibility, and provide a reasonable solution for any case or incident
which may arise. The client’s damages due to TTPR service problems may be minimized through the
SLA contract, in which the client may give a penalty or incentive to the TTPR based on the quality of the
provided service.
4.2.2 Service contract items
To use the service provided by a TTPR, clients (individuals or organizations) should enter into a service
contract with the TTPR. The following should be included in the service contract:
— service fees;
— service period;
— confirmation of digital record’s authenticity;
— the procedure and method of digital record transmission;
— the scope of accountability and responsibility of the TTPR and the client;
— the type of service the client is willing to use, pertaining to the management service;
— the client’s authority of access and use for consigned digital records;
— issues related to security and data protection of consigned digital records;
— provision of necessary information by the client and the TTPR during the service period;
— issues related to insurance coverage in the event of compensation due to service or disaster; and
— issues related to service quality and evaluation on the quality.
4.2.3 Service level agreement
4.2.3.1 General
The client should consent to the service agreement in order to use the service provided by the TTPR.
The TTPR should provide the service based on the agreement to which the client has consented, and the
client should also conform to the service agreement and have the right to receive the service. The main
items of a SLA are described below.
4.2.3.2 Service period
A TTPR should be obliged to provide the service to the client in accordance with the agreement during
the contract period, and the client should have the right to receive the service in accordance with the
agreement during the period. The client may specify the following regarding the service period:
— Effective period of service agreement;
— Retention period for each digital record; and
— Available period of non-repository certification service (refer to 4.3.9).
4.2.3.3 Transmission procedure and method
Agreement on the procedure and method for acquisition and transmission of digital records between the
TTPR and the client should be settled. The following should be consented to regarding the transmission
procedure and method:
— Decide on an online or offline method;
— Decide whether the record will be saved in the TTPR whenever a nonrecurring record such as
transaction takes place, or whether to save certain quantities of data as a batch;
— Decide whether an encrypted transmission channel will be used; and
— Decide which reliable transmission method (e.g. At Least Once delivery, At Most Once delivery,
Exactly Once delivery and In Order delivery) will be used.
4.2.3.4 Types of repository service
The TTPR should clarify the type and characteristics of each of its services to clients in a manner that
the client can clearly understand. Types and characteristics of TTPR services are as follows:
— Simple repository service:
The TTPR provides repository services for the digital records of the client during the period of
time specified in the agreement. However, no evidential document is provided for the records.
Unless there is an extension, the consigned digital records are disposed of in a manner preventing
their physical recovery.
— Delivery and migration service:
When a client requests the delivery and migration of the consigned digital records, the TTPR acts
as a mediator transmitting the records to a TTPR or another assigned client. When the client only
uses the delivery and migration service but not the repository service, and wishes to migrate
the digital records to a certain party, the TTPR migrates the digital records to the second party
through a series of processes and disposes of the digital records afterwards.
— Repository and certification service:
The TTPR provides a repository service for the digital records of the client during the period of
time specified in the SLA. Based on the stored record, it is possible for the TTPR to authenticate
whether it is original, check the result for authenticity and integrity, and certify that the authenti-
cated copy has been issued. Unless there is an extension, the consigned digital record is disposed
of in a manner preventing its physical recovery.
— Non-repository certification service (Remote Certification Service):
The TTPR only stores the metadata trail of the digital record by hashing, without storing the origi-
nal digital record in the TTPR’s repository. Using the stored metadata trail, the TTPR remotely
determines the authenticity and integrity status of the digital record.
4.2.3.5 Security and data protection
To secure the system integrity and protect the digital record and relevant data, the following security
provisions should be established and conformed to:
— protect against unauthorized access to the digital record and its metadata;
— validate data and information in the digital record;
— encrypt the transmission channel;
8 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
— maintain a backup copy to replace a digital record when there has been data loss or error;
— retain and dispose of a digital record for which the retention period and disposition requirements
specified in the contract with the consigner have been satisfied, and documentation of conformance
to such requirements and any relevant disposition schedule;
— develop a business continuity plan for digital records and relevant records, including production of
off-site copies of records, operating system (OS) and application programs; and
— maintain security for all transmission and receipt procedures.
Access levels to the TTPR and usage procedures for internal records of the TTPR should be documented
in detail in accordance with the security policy. Access guidelines, change of authorized personnel,
notification of unauthorized access and records of countermeasures to such access should be included.
To improve security and ensure integrity, encryption and a digital signature should be applied to the
digital record stored in the TTPR. Also, the TTPR should establish procedures and technology for
encryption and authorization management.
4.2.3.6 Information provision
The TTPR and the client should specify the information and type of certification documentation to be
provided during the period stated in the service agreement to provide and receive the service.
4.2.3.7 Compensation
Means of compensation for loss, calculation of compensation amount, scope of compensation, etc. should
be agreed upon in order to prepare for any damage to the client due to service suspension of the TTPR
or loss of the stored digital record due to unexpected disaster, human error or a service quality problem.
4.3 TTPR services
4.3.1 Acquisition service
This is a mandatory service in order for a TTPR to receive an information package including digital
records from a client. The TTPR should register the received records in repository storage after verifying
the whole information package. Requirements for providing the acquisition service are as follows:
— a client who is willing to store digital records in the TTPR should be authorized as a member of the
TTPR;
— the client system should be able to package the digital record as a TSIP in preparation for transmitting
the record to the TTPR;
— the authenticity of digital records to be stored in the TTPR should be verifiable, using creator’s
digital signature and timestamp of creation;
— the TTPR should inspect the consigned digital record during the acquisition, on normal registration,
in the event of registration failure, virus infection and/or errors.
The TTPR’s acquisition service should maintain service quality as follows:
— integrity should be maintained by receiving a digital record bundle as a TSIP;
— the process of packing the digital record in the form of a TSIP in the client system should be processed
within an acceptable time. In the event of a problem, the TTPR should notify the client with the
cause and solution; and
— the following requirements should be complied with in order to maintain security during the
transmission and receipt of digital records between the TTPR and the client:
— use a reliable transmission protocol with a transmission and receipt check function;
— process only using a secure transmission method;
— process confidentiality and integrity requirements for the transmitted and received digital
record; and
— perform denial protection for the transmitted and received digital record.
The procedures of the TTPR’s acquisition service are as follows:
a) Discuss and establish an acquisition plan with the TTPR for digital records to be stored by the
client in the TTPR. The acquisition plan should include the acquisition date, the selection of digital
records, the acquisition method (online or offline), and the type of digital record.
b) The client selects the digital records and ensures that they use one of the agreed file formats (if not,
the client implements a file conversi
...
TECHNICAL ISO/TR
REPORT 17068
First edition
2012-11-01
Information and documentation -
Trusted third party repository for
digital records
Information et documentation — Référentiel tiers de confiance pour
les enregistrements électroniques
Reference number
©
ISO 2012
© ISO 2012
All rights reserved. Unless otherwise specified, no part of this publication may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying and microfilm, without permission in writing from either ISO at the
address below or ISO’s member body in the country of the requester.
ISO copyright office
Case postale 56 • CH-1211 Geneva 20
Tel. + 41 22 749 01 11
Fax + 41 22 749 09 47
E-mail copyright@iso.org
Web www.iso.org
Published in Switzerland
ii © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
Contents Page
Foreword .iv
Introduction .v
1 Scope . 1
2 Terms and definitions . 1
3 Overview of a TTPR . 3
3.1 Necessity for a TTPR . 3
3.2 Requirements for trustworthiness . 4
3.3 TTPR components . 5
3.4 Characteristics of a TTPR . 6
4 TTPR services . 6
4.1 Service procedure . 6
4.2 TTPR service contracts . 6
4.3 TTPR services. 9
5 System requirements .18
5.1 General .18
5.2 Digital record repository system .18
5.3 Transmitter-receiver system .18
5.4 Network system .19
5.5 Time-stamping system .19
5.6 Trail management system .19
5.7 Security system of network system .20
5.8 Access control equipment .20
5.9 Disaster protection facility .20
5.10 System for certificate issuance and validation of digital record .20
5.11 Backup system .22
5.12 Remote repository system .22
6 Management requirements .22
6.1 General .22
6.2 Client management .22
6.3 Administrator’s role and authority management .23
6.4 Network and security management .23
6.5 Digital record management .24
6.6 Management of transmitted and received messages .26
6.7 Audit record management .27
6.8 Data backup and recovery management .28
6.9 Security management .29
6.10 Migration and receipt management .29
6.11 Client system management .30
Bibliography .32
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International
Standards adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting.
Publication as an International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies
casting a vote.
In exceptional circumstances, when a technical committee has collected data of a different kind from
that which is normally published as an International Standard (“state of the art”, for example), it may
decide by a simple majority vote of its participating members to publish a Technical Report. A Technical
Report is entirely informative in nature and does not have to be reviewed until the data it provides are
considered to be no longer valid or useful.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO/TR 17068 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 46, Information and documentation,
Subcommittee SC 11, Archives/records management.
iv © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
Introduction
As digital records are the inevitable by-products of various business activities in electronic and/or
digital systems, there is an increasing need to secure the legal admissibility of digital records during
their period of retention. It is internationally agreed that “digital records shall not be denied validity or
1)
enforceability of legal recognition by reason of their format alone” . Despite this, it may be very difficult
for an organization to assert that its digital records are authentic and able to act as effective evidence
of business action over a long period. In many cases legal admissibility of digital records managed by
organizations’ records systems may not be ensured. As a result, there is a growing need for certification
services for digital records by neutral third parties.
In order to protect digital records from business disputes during the period they are required for
sustaining legal obligation and ongoing retention, it is essential to ensure that the authenticity, reliability
and integrity of digital records endures.
Digital signatures are a well-known means of maintaining the integrity of digital records. However, as a
digital signature can only ensure integrity within its validity time (generally one to two years or less),
most digitally signed records cannot ensure their integrity for longer than this validity time. As a result,
it may be very difficult for an individual record system to prove the integrity of their digital records for
the period of retention obligation, where this is longer than the validity period of the digital signature.
A possible solution can be provided by a Trusted Third Party Repository (TTPR) service.
A TTPR is defined as a set of services, systems and personnel that ensure that digital records, entrusted
to it by a client, remain and can be asserted to be reliable and authentic, with the aim of providing
reliable access to managed digital records to its clients for the period of obligation for retention. A TTPR
for digital records should provide trustworthy services for clients, which can be examined by interested
parties (i.e. inspector, auditor, evaluator). These TTPR services are helpful to identify the evidence
admissibility of clients’ digital records as a source of evidence.
This Technical Report describes the specific requirements for the trustworthy services provided by a
TTPR. Its main purpose is to ensure that digital records can retain the relevant evidence and information
in an ensured and trusted manner during the required period of retention.
1) UNCITRAL 200t, United Nations Convention on the Use of Electronic Communication in International Contracts.
TECHNICAL REPORT ISO/TR 17068:2012(E)
Information and documentation - Trusted third party
repository for digital records
1 Scope
This Technical Report details the authorized custody services of a Trusted Third Party Repository
(TTPR) in order to ensure provable integrity and authenticity of the clients’ digital records and serve as
a source of reliable evidence.
It describes the services and processes to be provided by a TTPR for the clients’ digital records during
the retention period, to ensure trust. It also details the criteria of “trustworthiness” and the particular
requirements of TTPR services, hardware and software systems, and management.
This Technical Report has the limitation that the authorized custody of the stored records is between
only the third party and the client.
2 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
2.1
client
individual or organization that contracts with the TTPR and obtains permission to use the TTPR services
2.2
client system
hardware and software used by a client to use the service provided by the TTPR
2.3
digital record
information in any format created, received and maintained by digital means, used as evidence and
information by an organization or person, in pursuance of legal obligations or in the transaction of business
NOTE Adapted from ISO 15489-1:2001.
2.4
digital signature
data appended to, or a cryptographic transformation of, a data unit that allows a recipient of the data unit
to prove the source and integrity of the unit and protect against forgery by, for example, the recipient
NOTE Adapted from ISO 7498-2:1989.
2.5
information package
content information and associated preservation description information which is needed to aid in the
identification and preservation of the authentic and reliable digital records
NOTE 1 The information package has associated packaging information used to delimit and identify the
content information and preservation description information.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO 14721:2012.
2.6
process
series of actions or events taking place in a defined manner leading to the provision of TTPR services
2.7
public key certificate
digitally-signed statement that binds the value of a public key to the identity of the person, device or
service that holds the corresponding private key
NOTE Certificates are issued and signed by a certification authority (CA). The entity that receives a certificate
from a CA is the subject of that certificate.
2.8
service level agreement
SLA
written agreement between a service provider and a client that documents services and agreed service levels
NOTE Adapted from ISO/IEC 20000-1:2011.
2.9
system
hardware and software of the TTPR
2.10
trusted archival information package
TAIP
information package, consisting of the content information, creator’s digital signature and a TTPR or
third party’s timestamp, and the associated preservation description information, which is preserved
in a TTPR after verification
2.11
trusted dissemination information package
TDIP
information package, derived from one or more TAIPs, received by a client in response to a request to a TTPR
2.12
trusted submission information package
TSIP
information package that is delivered by a client to a TTPR with creator’s and sender’s digital signature
and a TTPR or third party’s timestamp, delivering the time and information of the sender
NOTE 1 Herein, the digital signature is prepared using the public key certificate and the time stamp is created
in accordance with the time stamping module provided by a TTPR.
NOTE 2 Adapted from ISO/TS 15000-2:2004.
2.13
trusted third party repository
TTPR
set of services, systems and personnel that ensure that the digital records entrusted to it by a client
remain and can be asserted to be reliable and authentic
NOTE This has the goal of providing reliable access to managed digital records to its clients in the period of
obligation for retention.
2.14
TTPR certificate
digital document issued to authenticate the digital record in the TTPR
2.15
TTPR service
intangible product that is the result of at least one activity performed at the interface between a
TTPR and a client
NOTE Adapted from ISO 9000:2005.
2 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
2.16
third party
person or body that is recognized as being independent of the parties involved, as concerns the
issue in question
2.17
trustworthiness
quality (of a TTPR) of being dependable and reliable
NOTE A trustworthy TTPR can be trusted to deliver its services in an authentic manner by following
documented policies and processes and ensuring the accuracy, reliability and authenticity of the records in the
repository over time.
3 Overview of a TTPR
3.1 Necessity for a TTPR
With the development and advancement of information and communication technology (ICT) over the
last two decades, the use of digital records has increased greatly. Accordingly, the number of electronic
transactions carried out by individuals and organizations in their daily activities has increased. For
example, in international transactions, many documents and records in digital formats are exchanged
in order to initiate, process and complete transactions between importers and exporters. Banks are also
involved in electronic records exchanges to confirm credit or payment. In the health industry, treatment
records are exchanged between clinics or patients and insurance companies; order of treatment records
are exchanged between general clinics and specialized clinics. These kinds of individual or organizational
transactions are very common within one sector or across several industries. During these transactions,
digital records can be easily copied, modified and distributed by an unauthorized person. This aspect of
documents and records retained in digital formats may create the risk of alteration or forgery, and has
raised awareness of the need for the secure management and transaction of digital records.
To help prevent possible risks, some countries have enacted laws and regulations requiring provable
authenticity, reliability, integrity and accessibility as a precondition for legal effect and enforceability
of digital records. These regulations explain the requirements for adopting secured digital records
and for judging their evidential admissibility. However, these requirements only typically describe the
mandatory characteristics that retained digital records need to have, regardless of an organization’s
records management capability. While many organizations have implemented a records system for
themselves, implementation of electronic records exchange across organizations often faces a number
of challenges. Individuals are also limited in their ability to comply with legal requirements for the
admissibility of their digital records. This limitation might cause social problems, delay operational
processes, reduce efficiency and prevent electronic exchange.
Therefore, as the exchange of secure records becomes more significant for individual and/or
organizational collaboration, the social demand for a trustworthy electronic transaction environment
has emerged as one of the major issues in digital environments today. Protecting information in digital
records is beginning to be regarded as an indispensable precondition for operational efficiency and
economic benefit in organizations across all sectors and industries.
One way of resolving this situation is to build and use a TTPR. A third party is an independent
individual or organization that is separate from the direct interests of mutual parties, and that acts as
an intermediary when two parties are exchanging digital information in a secure manner. Society and
governments should be in a position to trust the third party. To prevent any complications that may
arise during electronic transactions, a TTPR operates systems and facilities and follows well-defined
procedures according to the principles and guidelines for managing digital records in a secure manner.
During these processes, the TTPR ensures the authenticity, reliability, integrity and usability of digital
records, for the period of the contracted service. In addition, the TTPR provides an official source of
digital records that are admissible as evidence from a third party in the event of a dispute between
parties regarding their records.
TTPRs can play a significant role and provide several benefits to parties involved. A TTPR could
provide document digitization services for converting paper documents into digital records with legal
admissibility. It could also provide services for managing digital records. A TTPR is endowed with
authorized custody over the stored records. A TTPR also provides certification services by authenticating
digital documents and issuing certifications on documents processed and retained by the TTPR.
Furthermore, a TTPR works as an intermediary to provide a secure exchange of digital records between
creators, senders and receivers in many forms of electronic transactions (e.g. one-to-one party, one-to-
many parties, many-to-many parties in business transactions and operational workflows). As such, a
TTPR can provide a public service for secure electronic information exchange between individuals or
organizations.
As a result, a TTPR can have a role in the management of digital records produced or received in both
the public and the private sector. The TTPR helps reduce the cost of constructing and operating internal
repositories by enabling the outsourcing aspects of electronic records management. Recently, with
the increasing popularity of cloud computing service environments, the shift from traditional records
management to service-oriented approaches is appropriate. Therefore, TTPR services can be helpful for
effective and efficient management of digital records.
3.2 Requirements for trustworthiness
The trustworthiness requirements of the TTPR should meet the high level requirements in terms of
authenticity, reliability and integrity described in ISO 15489 (all parts) and should follow the legal
requirements for electronic communications formulated by UNCITRAL. Moreover, these requirements
need to extend to information packages driven from the reference model for information archival
suggested in ISO 14721 for the purpose of reliable custody.
A TTPR should follow the trustworthiness requirements broken down into the attributes of authenticity,
reliability and integrity described below:
— The authenticity of the client’s digital records is accounted for in a business context, for example,
the creators’ place of business at time of creation of the record should be retained. The TTPR should
be able to check this.
— The TTPR should agree with the client regarding the client’s role and responsibility for
authenticity during the service contract period. When the TTPR checks the state of authenticity
of the clients’ records, the client should be able to account for this. If a client can’t account for the
authenticity of its digital records, the TTPR should not classify those digital records as authentic.
— The authenticity of digital records created by the client is maintained using the timestamp and
digital signature applied at the time of ‘freezing’ the record. To ensure this, the clients’ digital
records system should attach the timestamp to created records, sourced from the time stamping
module provided by the TTPR. Also it should attach the clients’ digital signature to the digital
records. Using this digital signature, digital records that have been falsified can be recognized
immediately, and consequentially, their authenticity and integrity can be challenged.
— The reliability of digital records can be confirmed by verifying the custody of digital records.
However, the TTPR should specify only where the custody is between the TTPR and its clients.
— A client should transfer digital records to the TTPR as a package in the form of a Trusted
Submission Information Package (TSIP).
— The TTPR should confirm the reliable custody of clients’ digital records by validating received
clients’ TSIP regarding any change in the digital records and/or any transmission errors.
— The integrity of digital records should be retained after creation for the period of retention. After
confirming the authenticity and reliability requirements from transmitted digital records, the
TTPR should maintain the integrity for the period of retention by registering these records as a
TAIP package (i.e. the information package of the TTPR’s signed registration metadata, the attached
clients’ digital records and evidential history).
4 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
The TTPR should retain and manage the registration metadata, including the time of registration,
retention period, client information, the history of digital records, etc. In order to be able to confirm
trustworthiness of the stored digital records, the TTPR should be able to document key processes in the
management of digital records, such as acquisition, retention, distribution, delivery and migration and
disposition, and provide the document to a client as proof when requested.
3.3 TTPR components
A TTPR comprises services, systems and personnel as shown in Figure 1.
Services are provided to a client by the TTPR after the client has been authorized to use the TTPR
service through a contract. The TTPR should provide all the services specified in the contract to the
client, to the agreed quality level. The client should also fulfil all the obligations in the contract. For
example, the client should include the metadata required for validation of the authenticity of digital
records into information packages. The TTPR should be able to verify the authenticity of the transmitted
digital records. Besides the service provider and the client, there are other parties indirectly related
to the TTPR, for example, the inspector, auditor, evaluator. They are referred to as interested parties.
The inspector is an individual/organization that reviews technical issues in detail to determine
whether the digital records stored in a TTPR have legal evidential admissibility. The auditor is an
individual/organization that audits and monitors whether a TTPR is managed according to the defined
procedures and guidelines. The evaluator is an individual/organization that mainly judges whether a
software/hardware system satisfies the necessary functional requirements. The evaluator checks and
verifies the TTPR based on objective and formally established criteria, to provide the basis by which
TTPR can secure the confidence of its clients.
The software/hardware system fulfils its role as a tool, allowing the TTPR to maintain trustworthiness
and provide different services required by clients. The transmission system, which allows the
client’s created digital record to be transmitted reliably with integrity, the verification system which
automatically validates the metadata required for authenticity check during the acquisition stage, and
the repository system for the retention and management of the digital record, are included in such
software/hardware system. Also, the client’s system is necessary for the TTPR to maintain a safe and
reliable transmission channel and use a standardized transmission package.
The TTPR’s personnel have two main tasks: management and marketing. The management task operates
software/hardware to provide the TTPR services and preserves service quality. The marketing task
performs public relations and collects the clients’ requirements.
Figure 1 — TTPR Overview
3.4 Characteristics of a TTPR
For a TTPR to be a reliable agent of digital record management for clients, the TTPR should be capable
of providing consistent and stable service, have specialized competence to guarantee the evidential
admissibility of the digital records, and maintain neutrality toward all parties. The basic characteristics
required of the TTPR are divided into three aspects: stability, expertise and neutrality.
Stability: For consistent management of the stored digital records consigned to the TTPR and to provide
trustworthiness to the client, a TTPR should ensure stability. A TTPR should have sufficient capital and
human resources, a management strategy and execution capability. Furthermore, the TTPR should be
able to store, maintain and manage digital records normally, even in an emergency situation. To ensure
this capacity, the TTPR should have in place a disaster protection and recovery system.
Expertise: A TTPR should have expertise in coping with all the matters related to digital records.
Expertise is the essential attribute of the TTPR in ensuring the authenticity, reliability, integrity and
usability of their client’s digital records. The maintenance and management of a safe and efficient digital
record management system is also based on such expertise. The TTPR should employ experts and be
equipped with specialized processes and systems to ensure its own expertise. Specialized procedures
should be established for activities related to digital record management, such as acquisition, archiving,
certification, delivery and migration and disposition of the digital record. The TTPR should be equipped
with a specialized system to provide functions related to digital record management, such as metadata
processing, reliable messaging, security, digital signatures, time-stamps, etc.
Neutrality: A TTPR should maintain its neutrality toward all parties. A TTPR will only be recognized
within society if its neutrality is maintained. In addition, a TTPR should satisfy the guidelines and
requirements proposed in this Technical Report, and should be independent in its performance of
reliable digital record management, regardless of any external pressure; political institution, client
organization and all the stakeholders.
4 TTPR services
4.1 Service procedure
After the formation of a contract between a client and a TTPR, the client should construct a system
by adopting modules or specifications provided by the TTPR, whose functions are packaging digital
records, attaching a digital signature and transmitting the digital records. After constructing the client
system, the client can transmit digital records packaged in the form of a TSIP to the TTPR through the
transmission channel at a specific time or at any time, according to the contract. When the TTPR receives
the package, it verifies the package and its integrity. If there are no problems, the TTPR repackages the
submitted package into a TAIP and places it in digital storage. The client may request an authenticity
certificate or confirmation documents to prove that the digital records have reached each stage of
submission without problems.
A TTPR has a facility to migrate the digital records stored in the TTPR to other TTPRs, or to the client
who owns the records. When the agreed period of the digital records’ storage expires or the client
requests the disposition of the records, the TTPR will dispose of the records.
4.2 TTPR service contracts
4.2.1 General
A TTPR should contract with a client to provide services to the client. The contract should specify
the engagement of the service type, the service period, the authority and duty of the client, and the
responsibility of the TTPR. In particular, a TTPR service contract should clearly state whether the client
needs to provide information to the TTPR to prove the authenticity of digital records submitted by them,
to enable the TTPR to meet its responsibility as a provider of trustworthy services. It is recommended
that the contract includes a service level agreement (SLA) between a client and a TTPR. An SLA should
clarify the quality factors and the levels of TTPR services agreed by the client and the TTPR. An SLA
6 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
may also describe the method and amount of compensation when the TTPR does not meet the service
level agreed in the SLA. The contract may also fix the TTPR’s authority or determine the limitation
of the client’s accountability/responsibility, and provide a reasonable solution for any case or incident
which may arise. The client’s damages due to TTPR service problems may be minimized through the
SLA contract, in which the client may give a penalty or incentive to the TTPR based on the quality of the
provided service.
4.2.2 Service contract items
To use the service provided by a TTPR, clients (individuals or organizations) should enter into a service
contract with the TTPR. The following should be included in the service contract:
— service fees;
— service period;
— confirmation of digital record’s authenticity;
— the procedure and method of digital record transmission;
— the scope of accountability and responsibility of the TTPR and the client;
— the type of service the client is willing to use, pertaining to the management service;
— the client’s authority of access and use for consigned digital records;
— issues related to security and data protection of consigned digital records;
— provision of necessary information by the client and the TTPR during the service period;
— issues related to insurance coverage in the event of compensation due to service or disaster; and
— issues related to service quality and evaluation on the quality.
4.2.3 Service level agreement
4.2.3.1 General
The client should consent to the service agreement in order to use the service provided by the TTPR.
The TTPR should provide the service based on the agreement to which the client has consented, and the
client should also conform to the service agreement and have the right to receive the service. The main
items of a SLA are described below.
4.2.3.2 Service period
A TTPR should be obliged to provide the service to the client in accordance with the agreement during
the contract period, and the client should have the right to receive the service in accordance with the
agreement during the period. The client may specify the following regarding the service period:
— Effective period of service agreement;
— Retention period for each digital record; and
— Available period of non-repository certification service (refer to 4.3.9).
4.2.3.3 Transmission procedure and method
Agreement on the procedure and method for acquisition and transmission of digital records between the
TTPR and the client should be settled. The following should be consented to regarding the transmission
procedure and method:
— Decide on an online or offline method;
— Decide whether the record will be saved in the TTPR whenever a nonrecurring record such as
transaction takes place, or whether to save certain quantities of data as a batch;
— Decide whether an encrypted transmission channel will be used; and
— Decide which reliable transmission method (e.g. At Least Once delivery, At Most Once delivery,
Exactly Once delivery and In Order delivery) will be used.
4.2.3.4 Types of repository service
The TTPR should clarify the type and characteristics of each of its services to clients in a manner that
the client can clearly understand. Types and characteristics of TTPR services are as follows:
— Simple repository service:
The TTPR provides repository services for the digital records of the client during the period of
time specified in the agreement. However, no evidential document is provided for the records.
Unless there is an extension, the consigned digital records are disposed of in a manner preventing
their physical recovery.
— Delivery and migration service:
When a client requests the delivery and migration of the consigned digital records, the TTPR acts
as a mediator transmitting the records to a TTPR or another assigned client. When the client only
uses the delivery and migration service but not the repository service, and wishes to migrate
the digital records to a certain party, the TTPR migrates the digital records to the second party
through a series of processes and disposes of the digital records afterwards.
— Repository and certification service:
The TTPR provides a repository service for the digital records of the client during the period of
time specified in the SLA. Based on the stored record, it is possible for the TTPR to authenticate
whether it is original, check the result for authenticity and integrity, and certify that the authenti-
cated copy has been issued. Unless there is an extension, the consigned digital record is disposed
of in a manner preventing its physical recovery.
— Non-repository certification service (Remote Certification Service):
The TTPR only stores the metadata trail of the digital record by hashing, without storing the origi-
nal digital record in the TTPR’s repository. Using the stored metadata trail, the TTPR remotely
determines the authenticity and integrity status of the digital record.
4.2.3.5 Security and data protection
To secure the system integrity and protect the digital record and relevant data, the following security
provisions should be established and conformed to:
— protect against unauthorized access to the digital record and its metadata;
— validate data and information in the digital record;
— encrypt the transmission channel;
8 © ISO 2012 – All rights reserved
— maintain a backup copy to replace a digital record when there has been data loss or error;
— retain and dispose of a digital record for which the retention period and disposition requirements
specified in the contract with the consigner have been satisfied, and documentation of conformance
to such requirements and any relevant disposition schedule;
— develop a business continuity plan for digital records and relevant records, including production of
off-site copies of records, operating system (OS) and application programs; and
— maintain security for all transmission and receipt procedures.
Access levels to the TTPR and usage procedures for internal records of the TTPR should be documented
in detail in accordance with the security policy. Access guidelines, change of authorized personnel,
notification of unauthorized access and records of countermeasures to such access should be included.
To improve security and ensure integrity, encryption and a digital signature should be applied to the
digital record stored in the TTPR. Also, the TTPR should establish procedures and technology for
encryption and authorization management.
4.2.3.6 Information provision
The TTPR and the client should specify the information and type of certification documentation to be
provided during the period stated in the service agreement to provide and receive the service.
4.2.3.7 Compensation
Means of compensation for loss, calculation of compensation amount, scope of compensation, etc. should
be agreed upon in order to prepare for any damage to the client due to service suspension of the TTPR
or loss of the stored digital record due to unexpected disaster, human error or a service quality problem.
4.3 TTPR services
4.3.1 Acquisition service
This is a mandatory service in order for a TTPR to receive an information package including digital
records from a client. The TTPR should register the received records in repository storage after verifying
the whole information package. Requirements for providing the acquisition service are as follows:
— a client who is willing to store digital records in the TTPR should be authorized as a member of the
TTPR;
— the client system should be able to package the digital record as a TSIP in preparation for transmitting
the record to the TTPR;
— the authenticity of digital records to be stored in the TTPR should be verifiable, using creator’s
digital signature and timestamp of creation;
— the TTPR should inspect the consigned digital record during the acquisition, on normal registration,
in the event of registration failure, virus infection and/or errors.
The TTPR’s acquisition service should maintain service quality as follows:
— integrity should be maintained by receiving a digital record bundle as a TSIP;
— the process of packing the digital record in the form of a TSIP in the client system should be processed
within an acceptable time. In the event of a problem, the TTPR should notify the client with the
cause and solution; and
— the following requirements should be complied with in order to maintain security during the
transmission and receipt of digital records between the TTPR and the client:
— use a reliable transmission protocol with a transmission and receipt check function;
— process only using a secure transmission method;
— process confidentiality and integrity requirements for the transmitted and received digital
record; and
— perform denial protection for the transmitted and received digital record.
The procedures of the TTPR’s acquisition service are as follows:
a) Discuss and establish an acquisition plan with the TTPR for digital records to be stored by the
client in the TTPR. The acquisition plan should include the acquisition date, the selection of digital
records, the acquisition method (online or offline), and the type of digital record.
b) The client selects the digital records and ensures that they use one of the agreed file formats (if not,
the client implements a file conversion procedure).
c) The selected digital records are converted into a TSIP and transmitted to the TTPR.
d) The TTPR verifies the following prior to moving the TSIP to a digital record repository:
— whether the digital record in the TSIP has been successfully converted;
— whether the digital record is infected by virus or has an error; and
— whether the format of TSIP is compliant.
e) After the acquisition of the digital records is complete, documentation of the received data should
be completed by the TTPR.
f) Upon the client’s request, the TTPR should issue the acquisition certificate and add it to the certificate
issuance list.
g) The client receives and confirms the certificate issued by the TTPR and provided that there is no
problem with the certificate, stores it by selecting an appropriate storage method.
4.3.2 Repository service
This is a mandatory service for the TTPR to store the digital records consigned by the client. Requirements
for providing the service are as follows:
— the TTPR should have in place a process and system for the stable management of the digital record; and
— a TAIP should be produced at the point when the digital record is registered at the TTPR system, and
the system should manage the TAIP
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