Authentication

In today’s interconnected digital landscape, secure data sharing is critical, and the iSHARE Trust Framework plays a key role in facilitating this. iSHARE Framework uses a federated governance model, allowing diverse entities to collaborate based on shared rules. This article will explore the mechanism of authentication within iSHARE Trust Framework with a specific focus on the OAuth protocol, how it ensures trust, and the flexibility it provides to participants.

iSHARE Trusted Framework’s Federated Governance Model and Trust

iSHARE Trust Framework operates within a “federated model”, where different organisations collaborate under a common governance model. This shared governance ensures that all participants agree on the rules for securely sharing data while maintaining the autonomy of individual relationships. In this system, parties must be “discoverable”, adhering to specific trust or onboarding requirements that guarantee they meet ecosystem standards.

However, authentication within iSHARE Framework is not rigidly defined—there’s flexibility in how participants manage access approvals. While iSHARE Framework sets the groundwork for secure interactions, the ultimate decision to grant access lies with the data owners and service providers, providing a balanced approach to security and operational flexibility.

OAuth in iSHARE Trust Framework

iSHARE Trust Framework uses the OAuth 2.0 protocol for authenticating parties and providing access tokens when requesting access to a service within iSHARE. For the most recent version of the OAuth 2.0 specification visit oauth.net.

OAuth 2.0 plays a central role in iSHARE Trust Framework’s authentication process. OAuth allows trusted entities to securely share data without exposing sensitive credentials, like usernames and passwords. In iSHARE Framework, OAuth is enhanced by iSHARE-specific requirements that ensure compatibility with the federated trust model.

OAuth is a widely used security standard that enables secure access to protected resources in a fashion that is friendly to web APIs. It is a delegation protocol that provides authorization across systems. OAuth is about how to get a token and how to use a token. OAuth replaces the password-sharing anti pattern with a delegation protocol that’s simultaneously more secure and more usable. OAuth focused on solving a small set of problems and solving them well, which makes it a suitable component within larger security systems.

Key Elements of OAuth in iSHARE:

• Real-Time Authentication:

Rather than requiring pre-registration, OAuth in the iSHARe Framework enables real-time verification of organisations through the Participant Registry. This approach allows participants to interact with new organisations instantly, based on their adherence to the ecosystem's protocols.

• Public Key Infrastructure (PKI):

Trust between organisations is established through PKI certificates, which verify the identities of participants. These certificates are checked against a trusted list maintained by the Participant Registry, and only organisations with valid status can engage in data-sharing activities. PKI is very useful to computer systems for tracking and sorting dated information in dynamic and distributed applications both online and client side.

OAuth, in conjunction with PKI, ensures that authentication is robust yet flexible, allowing interactions between previously unknown parties.

Discoverability and Zero Trust

A core component of iSHARE Trust Framework is discoverability. Associations can make themselves visible within the network, while individual members remain private, enhancing security and flexibility. This setup is aligned with the principles of a zero-trust environment, where no participant is inherently trusted. All interactions are authenticated and verified in real-time, relying on the OAuth 2.0 flow for the secure exchange of tokens, allowing participants to trust each other dynamically without prior relationships.

Authentication in iSHARE

iSHARE Trust Framework has a unique approach to authentication, which centres around the OAuth protocol and a flexible governance model. iSHARE Trust Framework offers more autonomy to data owners and allows for tailored conditional authorizations based on specific requirements.

Conditional Authorization and Flexibility

The Framework’s flexibility extends to conditional authorisations. Data owners can specify conditions that must be met before access is granted, such as the fulfilment of legal, security, or contractual obligations. This is supported by OAuth 2.0, which allows for fine-grained access controls via tokens. Each token encapsulates the precise scope of access, making it easy for data owners to enforce their policies while adhering to the overall governance of the ecosystem. The inclusion of conditional authorisations provides organisations with the flexibility to maintain control over their data while adhering to strict security standards.

Building Trust Iteratively

Trust in iSHARE Trust Framework is built iteratively between associations. In the early stages of data-sharing relationships, trust may be limited, but it allows for progressive collaboration. OAuth’s flexible authentication process, combined with additional the trust mechanisms, allow participants to progressively increase their confidence in their data-sharing partners.

Conclusion

Authentication flows are built on a foundation of trust, flexibility, and layered security, with OAuth 2.0 serving as the backbone for secure interactions. By allowing for real-time verification and dynamic interactions, the Framework provides an adaptable and scalable solution for organisations that need to share data securely across associations.

As the Framework continues to evolve, ongoing improvements in trust mechanisms and security features will further solidify its role in facilitating safe, and by enhancing role clarity, and enabling fine-grained delegation policies, iSHARE is not only reinforcing its position in the federated governance space but also laying the groundwork for future-proof data ecosystems.