Introduction

Today, in paper-driven systems there are many checks to ensure that the expected clerical errors are detected and corrected. The scrutiny of the pieces of paper by experienced clerical staff, for example, often identifies errors made by trading partners. In an EDI system, it is necessary to replace these procedures with new procedures that are at least as effective.

The replacement not only involves the trading partners but also the other parties in the EDI system.

Whilst security procedures will be in place for each party to the EDI system, it is necessary to ensure that these procedures when taken together, will provide security to the whole. Each of the parties contributing to the whole system will have different prorities- security is more important to some organizations than to others. Absolute security is an imposibility, mistakes will happen, machines do break down, software does contain bugs. Management therefore need to determine how acceptable commercial security can be achieved in a cost-affective way.

Security will be looked at under the following areas:

  • -Dangers threatening EDI messages in transit
  • -Security of EDI systems in relation to other business systems
  • -Security mechanisms and procedures & technological security mechanisms
  • -Managing security.