Seventh Session

(27 June - 1 July 1994)

EXPERT GROUP ON DATA SYSTEMS

FIFTH REPORT

1. The Expert Group on Data Systems met on 20 April 1994 in The Hague to agree on the methodology of the work of the Specialist Task Force on Data Systems, a temporary advisory body that would report to the Expert Group on Data Systems, as set forward in PC-VI/A/WP.10.

2. The Expert Group recalled the following immediate actions, listed in PC-VI/A/WP.10:

agree in principle on nominated national specialist support for the approach outlined in paragraph 10, PC-VI/A/WP.10 above;

agree on a methodology and notation for the design specification of the IMS;

define the standards (file formats, document structures etc.) to be adopted for the IMS;

define the mechanisms for setting up a broadly-based Specialist Task Force to consider general security issues.

3. The Group recalled the objectives of the Specialist Task Force as set forward in its Fourth Report:

create a project plan for the development of the IMS which identifies estimated duration and dependency of tasks;

develop with the users (Secretariat Divisions) the requirements, categorised by application area, the security level and the priority of implementation;

design a data structure which shows how applications can draw upon available data (in terms of security and other issues) and which is hardware independent;

incorporate the requirements into the architecture, taking into consideration the security constraints, and create an information systems implementation plan;

determine size of the architecture and its elements according to the Secretariat's organisational needs and functional requirements.

4. The Group agreed on the following specific tasks that the Specialist Task Force should address before the Group's next meeting:

review the system design adopted by the Commission, including methodology and notation for the design specification of the IMS as well as the standards (file formats, document structures etc.) to be adopted for the IMS;

assist and advise the Secretariat in the development of the different requirements set out above, in particular the Verification Division's functional requirements;

assist the Secretariat in further refining its Systems Security Policy, in particular regarding the choice of a Comparted Mode Workstation (CMW) multi-level operating system and the enhanced security version of the INGRES Relational Database Management System (RDBMS);

provide guidance for the selection of external consultants for the security study and for the choice of standard software;

contribute to the threat and risk analysis of the Secretariat;

prepare a decision on required security technology and development environment;

assist the Secretariat in the evaluation of the national offers, including inspectorate support;

advise the Secretariat on the choice of appropriate tools for client application development.

5. The Group agreed on the following organisation for the Specialist Task Force:

a) Secretariat Members of the Task Force

Ralf Trapp (Verification Division)

René Haug, IMS Branch (Administration Division)

Louis Veeger, IMS Branch

Experts from the Secretariat, if required

Johan Rautenbach (Legal Division)

Anil Wadhwa (External Relations)

Shahbaz (Technical Cooperation and Assistance)

Ronald Nelson (Office of the Executive Secretary)

b) Specialists from Member States

The following Member States have at present forwarded names of specialists:

Finland

France

Germany

Hungary

Japan

Netherlands

Russian Federation

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

United States of America

c) Working Approach

Contributions by the Secretariat

Contributions by National Specialists (individual contributions to be consolidated in Specialist Task Force)

Contributions of External Consultants (security study, system development and implementation)

d) Work Method

use of Lotus Notes

use of Electronic Mail/Internet

use of Fax

it is understood that the activities of the Specialist Task Force will be of an on-going character as long as it remains in operation.

e) Milestones

20 April to 17 May Exchange and consolidation of contributions

17 May to 20 May Meeting of the Specialist Task Force in The Hague

26 May: Expert Group on Data Systems meeting in The Hague

6. In support of these tasks, the Secretariat is expected to provide a focal point and the required framework for effective work.

7. The Expert Group will review the results of the work of the Specialist Task Force and decide on its future activities.