Groups issues data-sharing specs

A coalition of IT vendors, government agencies and academic institutions last month released specifications for a system that could help government agencies share sensitive homeland security data.

The Open Specification for Sensitive Information Sharing is an attempt by the Regional Alliances for Infrastructure and Network Security to bridge current stovepiped communications systems.

The specs, built on Web services, are based on the RAINS-Net network that links 911 call centers with emergency personnel in the Pacific Northwest.