1 Introduction

1.1.1 The Secure Electronic Environment (S.E.E.) Project has a number of component parts for use among NZ Government agencies. The "S.E.E. Directory Project - Final Report" was published June 2001.

1.1.2 This discussion paper updates information relating to the current state of play, as at March 2002, in the LDAP Directory sphere with a particular emphasis on the availability and viability of Open Source options.

1.2 Trends

1.2.1 Over the last year or so, we have observed a number of trends in the Directory space. The key ones from our point of view are:

• LDAP version 3 is now a commodity standard. It is no longer a significant item in and of itself, it has become accepted as an essential building block or infrastructure component.

• The clear movement away from people as 'users' to people as people. That is, identity has become a significant issue. The important issue arising out of this is "Who will govern the issuance and management of 'Identity'"?

• The recent move by large players in the Web / Security market choosing to no longer pursue the support and management of Digital Certificates, in particular, and PKI in general. Rather they are moving to outsource what is seen as a 'hard' problem to other trusted parties whose primary focus is the PKI marketplace. This in turn raises the issue: "How is PKI evolving and what will become of current accepted PKI practice"?