Microsoft's New SecPAL Language Makes Grid Computing Safer

Blair Dillaway, a Microsoft researcher, recently stated at the GridWorld conference that Microsoft is currently developing a new language called SecPAL (Security Policy Assertion Language). This language leverages distributed authentication technology to make grid computing environments more secure.

Dillaway explained that the development of large and distributed computing environments has driven the need for trust relationships and access control authorizations. The current research and development of SecPAL by Microsoft is in response to the needs of large grid computing environments. Based on security research findings and past experiences in building end-to-end prototype systems, this language has been developed.

The current prototype under development can simulate several grid environments and also utilizes various existing Microsoft products, including Microsoft Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003, .Net Framework, Windows Communication Foundation (formerly codenamed Indigo), Active Directory directory service, and Kerberos- and X.509-based certification management structures. In addition, the prototype integrates multiple industry standards such as XML and web service gateways.