risks_pat_hatfield
Email This Page

Resource Center 

Electronic Signatures Put Into Action in US Battlefields Around the World

Earlier this year, the US Army reached a milestone in modernizing its operational support for the global war on terrorism. The Army began deploying an enterprise, electronic signature solution as part of a forms content management Program (FCMP) to eliminate paper from decision- making processes, and reduce the time, risk and cost of authorizing mission-critical, defense activities worldwide.

The milestone brought together, for the first time, key technology investments made by the Army to ensure the highest levels of user and data authentication, including the DoD PKI, real-time CRL verification using OCSP, Common Access Cards (CAC ), electronic forms, and electronic signatures.

By May more than 100 of the 125 most frequently used forms by the US Army to provide operational support for the war on terrorism could be signed electronically.

“The impact of eliminating paper in the battlefield has been significant,” said Richard L. Warren, CEO of the electronic signature provider, Silanis Technology. “For example, soldiers and commanders spread across multiple locations within the G-3 Collective Training and Operations Division nolonger have to hand-deliver requests that are generated each month to equip soldiers-in-action with needed ammunition. Not only do soldiers get the ammo faster, they don’t have to expose themselves to unnecessary travel risks.”

Silanis’ electronic signatures were tightly integrated in an automated document management process that leverages the DoD PKI, Tumbleweed’s CR L verification utilizing OCS P, Common Access Cards, and IBM WorkPlace forms. The solution enables Army forms to be securely signed electronically with the assurance that users are who they say they are; that the contents of a signed document can’t be modified without detection or authorization; and that a permanent audit trail of the process is created to record the accountability of all parties.

Users are prompted to swipe their Common Access Card each time they electronically sign a document. The x.509 digital certificate contained on the card is verified in real-time by the DoD PKI and Tumbleed’s Validation Authority Suite todetermine whether the signer is an active member of the Army.

Silanis’ solution then embeds the user’s digital certificate and its current status, into the audit trail of the electronic signature. The electronic signature is permanently bound to the document, just like ink on paper, so that it cannot be removed.

The electronic signature also prevents the contents of the document from being modified without detection. The entire verification and signing process takes a matter of seconds.

“The ability to authenticate Army personnel in real-time via their Common Access Cards, and then reference their identities in the documents they sign electronically were critical to the success of the FCM P program,” said Warren.

“A form is a form. But once you sign it with legal validation, it becomes an entirely different issue.”

Once fully rolled out, the reduction in paper and paper-related costs is expected to save the US Army $1.3 billion annually, enabling the funds to be re-allocated to areas with greater need.