When it comes to Electronic Data Interchange (EDI), security is a top priority. Secure data transmission relies on SSL encryption and authentication, powered by Secure Hashing Algorithm (SHA) technology. With the transition from SHA-1 to SHA-2, businesses must ensure their systems are up to date to maintain compliance and security.
Data Communication Solutions (DCS) helped a medical supply company upgrade their server to accommodate this important change. Here’s how we tackled the challenge.
SHA Explained
SHA (Secure Hashing Algorithm) is a cryptographic function used in SSL certificates for digital signatures. The older SHA-1 version, which operates at 160 bits, was widely used in the SSL industry but had vulnerabilities that made it obsolete. Its successor, SHA-2, offers multiple bit sizes—most commonly 256 bits—providing stronger encryption and security. Due to these improvements, the industry transitioned from SHA-1 to SHA-2 in 2016.
DCS’ Solution
Our client, a medical supply company using Alligacom AS2 for EDI transactions, faced a challenge when one of their trading partners moved from SHA-1 to SHA-2. Unfortunately, their version of Alligacom lacked built-in SHA-2 compatibility, creating a potential disruption in secure data exchange.
DCS stepped in to facilitate a smooth transition. We coordinated with Alligacom to secure the necessary software upgrade and handled the installation process. Alligacom SHA-2 will allow the server owner (host company) to have more than one profile. To enable SHA-2 support, we created a second AS2 profile for the client. Since adding a new profile required either a change to the AS2 User ID or Port Number, we adjusted the User ID and updated the AS2 profile accordingly.
With this upgrade, our client’s system is now fully SHA-2 capable, ensuring continued secure transactions with their trading partners.
How DCS Can Help You
Is your EDI system up to date with the latest security protocols? If you need assistance upgrading to SHA-2 or improving your EDI security, DCS has the expertise to help. Contact us today to ensure your data remains protected and compliant.
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