Strengthening network security

The events of 11 September 2001 have made security a focus for governments, corporations and individuals. To this end, ITU has been at the forefront of the development of standards that will help to make the world a safer place.

ITU’s standards development sector, ITU-T, has developed the de facto standard for electronic authentication over public networks ITU-T X.509. X.509 is the definitive reference for designing applications related to Public Key Infrastructure (PKI). The elements defined within X.509 are widely used, from securing the connection between a browser and a server on the Web to providing digital signatures that enable e-commerce transactions to be conducted with the same confidence as in a traditional system. Work continues on developing security standards in IP networks, ITU-T H.323 and mobile security issues for next-generation networks. Specifically, ITU study groups have looked at the following issues:

• Security from network attacks
• Theft or denial of service
• Theft of identity
• Eavesdropping
• Tele-biometrics for authentication
• Security for emergency telecommunication
• Telecommunication networks security requirements.