RFC 3114 (rfc3114) - Page 1 of 14
Implementing Company Classification Policy with the S/MIME Security Label
Alternative Format: Original Text Document
Network Working Group W. Nicolls
Request for Comments: 3114 Forsythe Solutions
Category: Informational May 2002
Implementing Company Classification Policy
with the S/MIME Security Label
Status of this Memo
This memo provides information for the Internet community. It does
not specify an Internet standard of any kind. Distribution of this
memo is unlimited.
Copyright Notice
Copyright (C) The Internet Society (2002). All Rights Reserved.
Abstract
This document discusses how company security policy for data
classification can be mapped to the S/MIME security label. Actual
policies from three companies provide worked examples.
1. Introduction
Security labels are an optional security service for S/MIME. A
security label is a set of security information regarding the
sensitivity of the content that is protected by S/MIME encapsulation.
A security label can be included in the signed attributes of any
SignedData object. A security label attribute may be included in
either the inner signature, outer signature, or both. The syntax and
processing rules for security labels are described in RFC 2634 [ESS].
The key words 'MUST', 'MUST NOT', 'REQUIRED', 'SHALL', 'SHALL NOT',
'SHOULD', 'SHOULD NOT', 'RECOMMENDED', 'MAY', and 'OPTIONAL' in this
document are to be interpreted as described in RFC 2119 [MUSTSHOULD].
1.1 Information Classification Policies
Information is an asset, but not all information has the same value
for a business. Not all information needs to be protected as
strongly as other information.
Research and development plans, marketing strategies and
manufacturing quality specifications developed and used by a company
provide competitive advantage. This type of information needs
Nicolls Informational