Title

The name of the group is eduGAIN Computer Security Incident Response Team (CSIRT)

Definitions

This document makes use of the Definitions described in the eduGAIN Constitution [eduGAIN-Constitution] and of the following additional ones:

Purpose and Responsibilities

eduGAIN-CSIRT provides computer security incident response coordination for eduGAIN. It serves as the primary contact point for all security related issues affecting eduGAIN.

The eduGAIN-CSIRT maintains a communication infrastructure to assure that all the relevant information is received by the relevant Federation Operators and Entities security contacts in eduGAIN. That the information is processed and needed response actions are carried out is the responsibility of the Entity and respective Federation Operator Security Contacts.

Constituency

eduGAIN-CSIRT provides incident response coordination for the Entities members of Identity Federations participating in eduGAIN.

Service Description

Members of eduGAIN-CSIRT provide or assist in providing the following services:

• Incident coordination on the inter-federation and inter organization level.
• maintaining and testing of a communication infrastructure that allows for a timely information flow among the affected entities, see https://wiki.geant.org/display/eduGAIN/Communication+Challenge+FAQ
• if requested, and appropriate, support in incident resolution (forensics).

Service Level Description

The services described above are provided at least during business hours (9x5 CET/CEST) with 4-hour response, and outside business hours on a best-effort basis.

Composition

Membership

eduGAIN-CSIRT consists of:

• the eduGAIN-CSIRT Security Officer, that will be nominated by the GEANT project.
  
• At the time of the establishment of the eduGAIN-CSIRT the eduGAIN Participants will be invited to propose members of the eduGAIN-CSIRT. The proposed members must be senior security professionals from research and education IT infrastructures. The proposals will be reviewed for acceptance by the eduGAIN Security Officers.
• An eduGAIN Participant can always propose a new member of the eduGAIN-CSIRT. The proposal will be reviewed for acceptance by the eduGAIN Security Officers according to the actual needs of the eduGAIN-CSIRT.
• Each member of the eduGAIN-CSIRT will be funded by the respective organization either through the GEANT project, or direct funding.
• Invited members: GEANT CERT Security Officer. Others?

Chair

The Chair of eduGAIN-CSIRT is the Security Officer.

Duties and responsibilities

The duties and responsibilities of the Chair include:

• Scheduling and running eduGAIN-CSIRT meetings and ensuring that minutes are taken and published.

• Ensuring all discussion items end with a decision, action or definite outcome.
• Inviting specialists to attend meetings when required according to the eduGAIN-CSIRT agenda.
• Acting as general point of contact for eduGAIN-CSIRT.

• Ensuring that documents produced are presented for approval and adoption and that once approved these are published and made available.

• Ensuring that eduGAIN-CSIRT meets the various demands placed on it to produce and maintain policy, procedure and best practice. This will include negotiation with eSG, members of the CSIRT, and other stakeholders to agree priorities and timelines commensurate with the effort available to the Group.

• Reporting to the the eSG as appropriate.

The duties and responsibilities of the members include:

Term of Office

The Term of Office is unlimited.

Method of Appointment

The eduGAIN-CSIRT Chair is appointed by the GEANT project.

Operating Procedures

The operation of eduGAIN-CSIRT will obey the eduGAIN Declaration and the eduGAIN Constitution and follow the procedures approved by the eSG. Any eduGAIN stakeholder has the right to suggest new policies and procedures: such requests should be submitted to the eduGAIN Security Officer. The decision whether to accept this request will be discussed within the eduGAIN CSIRT and decision will be recorded in the minutes of the meeting and feedback will be provided to the original requestor.

Communications and Meetings

All the members of the eduGAIN-CSIRT must subscribe to the eduGAIN-CSIRT mailing list (edugain-support-sec-team@lists.geant.org)
and should use it as the primary written communication channel. To allow for low latency communications, the team may communicate using end-to-end encrypted instant messaging channels provided all end-points have been pre-authenticated during a face-to-face validation.

The group deliberations happen at face-to-face meetings, phone/video conferences, or via the group mailing list. To enable consideration, where practicable, the draft agenda together with reports and documents that relate to the group will be forwarded to members three working days prior to scheduled meetings.

Accurate minutes will be kept of each meeting of the group. The minutes of a meeting shall be submitted to group members for ratification at the next subsequent meeting of the group.

Decision making

• Wherever possible, the Group will arrive at proposed draft recommendations documents and/or advice by clear consensus, as determined by the Chair

•  A voting process will only start if consensus cannot be reached after two consecutive group meetings or if at least one third of voting members of the Group call for a vote

•  A decision is adopted if more than 50% of the voting members present cast their vote for the  proposed decision

•  If the group’s recommendations are adopted by majority vote, minority positions will be recorded and reported

• The group, by majority decision, may refer matters for decision to the eduGAIN Steering Group on issues where a consensus cannot be achieved.

Peer Organizations

The eduGAIN-CSIRT shall proactively communicate with recognized peer organizations regarding suspected and confirmed security incidents that could affect such peers. It shall maintain a reference to the operating policies and practices of such peer infrastructures and participate in their processes and the evolution thereof.

Communication Channels

Related material and references

Reporting

eduGAIN-CSIRT provides input about current operational security activities to Federation Operators group and eSG on request.

Authority

eduGAIN-CSIRT is authorized by the eSG to coordinate computer security incident response activities within its Terms of Reference and the applicable security policies. The eSG is the governing body of eduGAIN-CSIRT.

References