Writing Security Specification with Things That Flow

Abstract

In the field of security, writing a Request For Proposals (RFP) includes a description of specifications that requires careful definition of problems and an overview of how the system works. An important aspect in this context is how to generate technical specifications within the RFP. This “specification writing” is a complex subject that causes even design professionals such as architects and engineers to struggle. Typically an RFP is described in English, with graphs and tables, resulting in imprecise specifications of requirements. It has been proposed that conceptual representation such as UML diagrams and BPMN notations be included in any RFP. This paper examines RFP development of Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) and proposes a conceptual depiction as a supplement to the RFP to clarify requirements more precisely than traditional tools such as natural language, tables, and ad hoc graphs. A case study of an actual government ministry is presented with a model, i.e., diagrams that express how the features and services of PKI would logically operate in the requisite system.