The NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission (NIOC) is pleased to announce the release of a revised Certificate Policy for the NG9-1-1 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI).
PKI is a critical component for establishing trusted and secure communications among Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) systems, services, and participating organizations. PKI provides the framework of roles, policies, processes, and technologies used to issue, manage, validate, use, and revoke digital certificates. These certificates provide a mechanism for verifying the identities of NG9-1-1 entities and supporting secure communication among systems.
The updated Certificate Policy (CP), developed in conjunction with the NENA Core Services Committee, establishes the requirements, practices, and standards governing the issuance and management of digital certificates within the NG9-1-1 PKI. The revised policy provides greater clarity regarding the roles and responsibilities of Certification Authorities (CAs) and other PKI participants and supports consistent implementation across the NG9-1-1 ecosystem.
The updated Certificate Policy is available here.
“The revised Certificate Policy represents an important step in strengthening the common trust framework needed across the NG9-1-1 ecosystem. By providing clearer requirements and responsibilities for participants, the policy supports consistent implementation of the NG9-1-1 PKI and helps establish the trusted communications necessary for systems and services to interoperate across organizational and jurisdictional boundaries,” said Steve McMurrer, Chair of the NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission.
Establishing Trust Across NG9-1-1
The NG9-1-1 Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) provides a common framework that allows NG9-1-1 systems and services to verify the identities of those they communicate with. At the foundation of this framework is the PCA Root Certification Authority, which establishes a common source of trust throughout the NG9-1-1 environment.
Digital certificates serve as trusted credentials that allow systems and services to verify one another’s identity. By using a shared trust framework, participating systems can establish trust even when operated by different organizations, jurisdictions, or Emergency Services IP Networks (ESInets).
This common framework supports secure communications and interoperability across organizational and ESInet boundaries. The NG9-1-1 PKI also supports the certificate-based authentication and security requirements established in applicable NENA NG9-1-1 standards.
Additional information regarding NG9-1-1 architecture and security requirements is available in the NENA i3 Standard for Next Generation 9-1-1 and NENA’s Security for Next Generation 9-1-1 Standard.
About the NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission
The NG9-1-1 Interoperability Oversight Commission (NIOC) is the independent governance and oversight body responsible for services supporting interoperability and security within the NG9-1-1 environment, including the NG9-1-1 Public Key Infrastructure and Forest Guide.
Through independent governance, policy development, and oversight, NIOC works to support a common framework for trusted, secure, and interoperable communications across NG9-1-1 systems and jurisdictions.
Additional information about NIOC is available at ng911ioc.org.