Open-Source Solution to Secure E-Government Services

Abstract

Nowadays, a global information infrastructure connects remote parties through the use of large scale networks, and many companies focus on developing e-services based on remote resources and on interactions between remote parties. In such a context, e-government (e-gov) systems became of paramount importance for the public administration, and many ongoing development projects are targeted on their implementation, security, and release (Bettini, Jajodia, Sean Wang, & Wijesekera, 2002). For open-source software to play an important role in this scenario, three main technological requirements must be fulfilled: (1) the identification and optimization of de facto standards for building e-gov open-source software components, (2) the adoption of open-source techniques to secure e-gov services and (3) the standard integration of these components into an open-source middleware layer, capable of conveying a completely open-source e-gov solution. This article highlights that e-gov systems should be constructed on an open-source middleware layer, providing full public responsibility in its development. The role of open-source middleware for secure e-gov services deployment is discussed, focusing on implementing a security environment without custom programming. An alternative solution is given and consists of the adoption of a stand-alone architecture that fulfils all security requirements.