The XML Key Management Specification

The XML Key Management Specification is an emerging standard being developed by Verisign, Microsoft, and WebMethods. It is intended to simplify the ability to use a PKI by defining a protocol for distributing and registering public keys through an XML interface, thus opening up the currently complex and proprietary PKI world. There are two different specifications within this specification:

• X-KISS (XML Key Information Service Specification): This defines a protocol for resolving public key information found in <ds:KeyInfo> elements (<ds:KeyInfo> is defined by XML-SIG).
• X-KRSS (XML Key Registration Service Specification): This defines a protocol for registration of public key information. This is targeted at Web browsers.

Until this specification is embraced and implemented by providers, you must use a proprietary mechanism for public key submission.