Public-key Data Authentication for Treaty Verification

Public-key data authentication is important for support of both bilateral and multi-lateral treaties. A public-key Treaty Data Authentication Module (TDAM) based on the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Digital Signature Standard has been developed by Sandia National Laboratories to support treaty verification systems. The TDAM has been designed according to the NIST security guidelines for cryptographic modules.1 The TDAM uses the Motorola DSP56001 Digital Signal Processor as a coprocessor and supports both the STD bus and PC-AT bus platforms. The TDAM is embedded within an Authenticated Data Communication Subsystem (ADCS), which provides transparent data authentication and communications. Consequently, the user need not be concerned with the details of securely authenticating and communicating compliance data and commands.