Reusable Secure Connectors for Secure Software Architecture

This paper describes the design of reusable secure connectors that are used in the design of secure software architectures for distributed software applications. The secure connectors are designed separately from application components by reusing the appropriate communication pattern between components as well as the security services required by these components. Each secure connector is designed as a composite component that encapsulates both security service components and communication pattern components. Integration of security services and communication patterns within a secure connector is provided by a security coordinator. The main advantage is that secure connectors can be reused in different applications. In this paper, secure connectors are reused in electronic commerce and automated teller machine applications.