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- DDN MGT Bulletin 69 DCA DDN Defense Communications System
- 16 Mar 90 Published by: DDN Network Info Center
- (NIC@NIC.DDN.MIL) (800) 235-3155
-
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- DEFENSE DATA NETWORK
-
- MANAGEMENT BULLETIN
-
- The DDN MANAGEMENT BULLETIN is distributed online by the DDN Network
- Information Center under DCA contract as a means of communicating
- official policy, procedures and other information of concern to
- management personnel at DDN facilities. Back issues may be read
- through the TACNEWS server ("@n" command at the TAC) or may be
- obtained by FTP (or Kermit) from the NIC.DDN.MIL host [26.0.0.73]
- using login="anonymous" and password="guest". The pathname for
- bulletins is DDN-NEWS:DDN-MGT-BULLETIN-nn.TXT (where "nn" is the
- bulletin number).
- **********************************************************************
-
- Improved Key Management for DDN KG-84A Secured Circuits
-
- 1. The following information was transmitted to a wide variety of
- addressees in a Military (AUTODIN) message form. To ensure widest
- possible dissemination of the information, it is being distributed
- in this DDN Management Bulletin as well.
-
- 2. The Defense Communications Agency (DCA) is constantly looking
- for ways to improve the Defense Data Network (DDN) and reduce any
- burdens on the Node Site Coordinators (NSCs) and the Host
- Administrators (HAs). Since release of the Joint Staff mandate to
- provide encryption devices on all our trunks and host access lines,
- we have been extremely concerned with the current method of doing
- daily crypto key changes or updates in the DDN networks. The
- existing procedures for changing or updating the communications
- security (COMSEC) key are burdensome, time consuming, and manpower
- intensive. The whole process is underscored by the extensive
- circuit downtimes that are attributed to key management. However,
- there are two relatively new ways of doing key changes or updates
- that vastly improve on existing procedures. One method uses
- Over-the-Air Rekey (OTAR) and the other uses the DCA-procured
- Enhanced Fixed Plant Adapter (EFPA).
-
- 3. The first method takes advantage of recent National Security
- Agency (NSA) changes to COMSEC key management doctrine and policy.
- These changes permit additional keying options and provide new
- procedures for performing daily key changes or updates. The
- doctrinal changes take advantage of features in the KG-84A that
- permit "Over-the-Air Rekey" or OTAR for short. OTAR has been
- applied in other networks and tested at selected sites in the DDN.
- It has proven to be effective and efficient. DCA supports and
- encourages the use of OTAR on DDN circuits.
-
- 3. The second method of doing key management requires the
- DCA-procured EFPA. DCA will select some Packet Switching Nodes
- (PSNs) to install the DCA-procured EFPA in support of key update
- functions. PSNs selected for EFPA installation will be contacted
- at a later date and provided all the particulars. In the meantime,
- DCA recommends OTAR implementation since it will not impact on site
- selection for EFPA installation.
-
- 4. DCA will be providing you additional guidance and information
- describing OTAR and on how to apply it on your DDN circuit. We must
- emphasize the word "guidance" because COMSEC key management
- responsibility and authority rests with the COMSEC Controlling
- Authority (CCA) of the key. It is for this reason that we strongly
- encourage all NSCs, HAs, and Remote TAC Custodians to contact
- their local COMSEC Custodian (or provider of the key) to discuss all
- the guidance and information that we are going to provide you. In
- some instances, you will find that the COMSEC Custodian already
- knows about OTAR.
-
- 5. Agency and Service Points of Contact (POCs) are:
-
- A. DCA - Mr. Carlos Castro, Code: DDOS, DSN: 356-5032, Comml: (703)
- 285-5032, email: CASTROC@IMO-UVAX.DCA.MIL;
-
- B. NSA - Mr. Joseph W. Maguire, Code: S13T, DSN/STU-III: 235-6098,
- Comml: (301) 688-6098;
-
- C. Navy - Mr. Charles L. Latimer, Code: COMNAVTELCOM/N322C, DSN:
- 292-0400, Comml: (202) 282-0400;
-
- D. Air Force - MSgt Gary H. Wigner, Code: AFCC/DSSC, DSN: 576-3451,
- Comml: (618) 256-3451.
-
- E. Army - CDRUSAISC/ASOP-OI, Fort Huachuca, AZ 85613-5300,
- DSN: 879-8084.
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