Partitioning Communication System

Partitioning Communication System is a computer and communications security architecture based on an information flow separation policy. The PCS extends the four foundational security policies of a MILS (Multiple Independent Levels of Security) software architecture to the network:

• End-to-end Information Flow
• End-to-end Data Isolation
• End-to-end Periods Processing
• End-to-end Damage Limitation

The PCS leverages software separation to enable application layer entities to enforce, manage, and control application layer security policies in such a manner that the application layer security policies are:

• Non-bypassable,
• Evaluatable,
• Always-invoked, and
• Tamper-proof.

The result is a communications architecture that allows a software separation kernel and the PCS to share responsibility of security with the application.

The PCS was invented by OIS. OIS collaborated extensively on the requirements for the PCS with:

• National Security Agency
• Air Force Research Laboratory
• University of Idaho
• Lockheed Martin
• Boeing
• Rockwell Collins

References

• Vanfleet, W. Mark; Luke, Jahn A.; Beckwith, R. William; Taylor, Carol; Calloni, Ben; Unchenick, Gordon (August 2005). "MILS - Architecture for High-Assurance Embedded Computing". Crosstalk (Aug 2005).
• Presentation at OMG Software Based Communications Workshop
• Beckwith, R. William. "MILS Partitioning Communication System". Objective Interface Systems, Inc.