Internet2 research labs planned

UW–Madison and Dartmouth College will be sites for Internet2 Public Key Infrastructure Labs meant to help develop and deploy technology to make the Internet more secure, more reliable and easier to use.

Internet users need a simple, reliable way to securely use services ranging from remote scientific instruments to email, calendar and e-commerce. In addition, privacy is an important consideration when using many services, such as digital libraries.

A PKI ties together information in digital certificates, databases and directories, enabling reliable authentication and authorization across organizational boundaries. Widely deployed PKI-enabled middleware is essential for the Internet to become more secure and effective.

AT&T is providing $100,000 to help set up the labs.

“This PKI Lab award will accelerate the pace and increase the depth of collaboration at the University of Wisconsin–Madison and across the Internet2 community,” says Keith Hazelton, senior information technology architect with the UW–Madison Division of Information Technology. “We see ourselves scouting ahead to discover and help overcome barriers to broad-scale PKI deployment.

“PKI offers great promise for addressing issues in privacy, data confidentiality, data integrity and reliable digital signatures,” Hazelton adds.

The Internet2 PKI Labs will develop technology that is more scalable, open, secure and private. It will allow enterprises to better secure access to information and services over the Internet. Close collaboration with Internet2 corporate partners will help promote rapid deployment in the global Internet.

A board of leading experts from industry, government and academia provide leadership and direction for the Internet2 PKI Labs.

Led by over 180 US universities working with industry and government, Internet2 is developing and deploying advanced network applications and technologies for research and higher education, accelerating the creation of tomorrow’s Internet. Internet2 recreates the partnership of academia, industry and government that helped foster today’s Internet in its infancy.