Web Services Security

Abstract

A service is an application offered by an organization that can be accessed through a programmable interface. Web services allow computers running on different operating platforms to access and share each other’s databases by using open standards, such as extensible markup language (XML) and simple object access protocol (SOAP). In this chapter, the following Web services mechanisms are discussed: (1) XML encryption, XML signature, and XML key management specification (XKMS); (2) security assertion markup language (SAML); and (3) Web services security (WS-security).