Yes, I agree.

Let me explain it specifically, there is a premise when I proposed to set a 
minimum and a maximum value to certificate sample size during self-audit in my 
last email, and that is certificates should be audited separately according to 
different types(or different issuance processes) rather than selecting samples 
randomly from the overall certificates of a CA for audit. 

 

Best Regards

Ruby Xiong

Shanghai Electronic Certification Authority co., ltd. 

18F, No.1717, North Sichuan Road, Shanghai, China

Tel:+86-21-36393197

Email: <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] 

                
                
                        

 

 

发件人: Public [mailto:[email protected]] 代表 Ryan Sleevi via Public
发送时间: Thursday, June 8, 2017 12:04 AM
收件人: CA/Browser Forum Public Discussion List
抄送: Ryan Sleevi
主题: Re: [cabfpub] [EXTERNAL] 答复: Changing numbers of self-audited certificates

 

>From the browser perspective, our target is 100% audit, particularly around 
>technical controls. Recognizing the practical limitations of that, we've been 
>willing to go less.

 

However, as a practical matter, the choice and application of the sampling, as 
currently practiced, does not align with the risk profile. For example, it 
would be entirely appropriate and reasonable to highlight that the issuance of 
certificates to different profiles (e.g. DV, OV, EV in one dimension, 
internally operated vs externally operated sub-CAs in another dimension, those 
using 3.2.2.4.1 vs 3.2.2.4.5, or those representing different CA brands or 
infrastructures) each represent a different set of activities and associated 
controls, and thus a more pragmatic approach to auditing would be to example 
sample sizes as appropriate for the populations of each of these distinct 
activities and controls, rather than the current approach that treats all 
certificate issuance as equivalent.

 

By taking a more meaningful examination of the practice - one in which every 
activity that exercises distinct controls is a distinct risk profile - it might 
be possible to reduce the sample size on an individual basis. Of course, in 
order to have reliable assurances of the meaningfulness of those samples, we 
would also need to see increased documentation in CA's CP/CPS (to highlight the 
activities) and in the audit reports (to detail the controls examined for each 
'issuance pipeline')

 

On Wed, Jun 7, 2017 at 11:55 AM, Kirk Hall via Public <[email protected]> 
wrote:

Hi, Ruby - thanks for the information.

If I recall correctly, we first required a 3% self-audit of certificates when 
the EV Guidelines were developed about ten years ago, but I can't remember the 
rationale, or why there was no maximum number of self-audits included.  Does 
anyone else remember?


-----Original Message-----
From: Public [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of xiongyuanyuan 
via Public
Sent: Wednesday, June 7, 2017 3:40 AM
To: 'CA/Browser Forum Public Discussion List' <[email protected]>
Cc: xiongyuanyuan <[email protected]>
Subject: [EXTERNAL][cabfpub] 答复: Changing numbers of self-audited certificates

Yes.
>From the point of audit risk control, set a minimum value is more reasonable. 
>According to the presentation in AICPA Audit Sampling Guide(screenshot 
>attached), when a control happens less frequently, we can decide the sample 
>size by the frequency of the control. So in my opinion, when CA performs 
>self-audit to certificates that have a small volume, it is acceptable to take 
>this guide as reference. From this table, we can see that a minimum value of 5 
>to certificate sample size is appropriate and is able to control audit risk.

Besides, I think we should also set a maximum value to certificate sample size.
This is because when CA performs self-audit to certificates that have a very 
large volume, 3% of the total population will still be a lot to audit, and this 
would result in large audit cost for the CA.
When we look at AICPA Audit Sampling Guide and AU 350 of PCAOB, for those 
testing samples with high risk, the TER(tolerable exception rate)should be low 
as possible, a maximum value of 60(certificates) to sample size(assume all the 
60 testing samples are effective) will promise a lower TER as 5% which is much 
lower than a TER as12%-15% (which is operated by some audit firms for those 
testing samples with normal risk).

Base on this, I suggest we also set a maximum value of 60 to certificate sample 
size, which ensures audit efficiency as well as controls audit cost and audit 
risk.

Best Regards,
Ruby Xiong
Shanghai Electronic Certification Authority co., ltd.
18F, No.1717, North Sichuan Road, Shanghai, China
Tel:+86-21-36393197
Email:[email protected]


-----邮件原件-----
发件人: Public [mailto:[email protected]] 代表 Gervase Markham via Public
发送时间: Tuesday, June 6, 2017 6:47 PM
收件人: CABFPub
抄送: Gervase Markham
主题: [cabfpub] Changing numbers of self-audited certificates

Currently, the BRs define, in section 8.7, the parameters for self-audits and 
audits of certificates below a TCSC. At the moment, the number of certs 
randomly chosen to be audited is defined as "the greater of one certificate or 
at least three percent of the Certificates issued".

I think that auditing just a single certificate (which is currently OK up until 
33 are issued) makes it too easy to overlook problems when volumes are small. I 
propose instead a 5-certificate minimum, or 3%, whichever is larger. In other 
words:

Issued Audited
0      0
1      1
.....
5      5
6      5
.....
166    5
167    6
.....

We could just change the "one" to a "five" if people thought it was obvious 
that if you've issued less than five, you just audit all of them. Or we could 
expand the text a bit to explicitly describe that.

I would be interested in feedback on the impact of this change. It's been 
proposed for the Mozilla policy but as it's a BR stipulation I thought we 
should try here first.

Gerv
_______________________________________________
Public mailing list
[email protected]
https://cabforum.org/mailman/listinfo/public

_______________________________________________
Public mailing list
[email protected]
https://cabforum.org/mailman/listinfo/public
_______________________________________________
Public mailing list
[email protected]
https://cabforum.org/mailman/listinfo/public

 

_______________________________________________
Public mailing list
[email protected]
https://cabforum.org/mailman/listinfo/public

Reply via email to