EDI Security Fundamentals
EDI documents often contain sensitive business information - pricing, customer data, financial details, and proprietary product information. Securing this data in transit and at rest is critical for maintaining business trust and regulatory compliance.
- Encryption in transit using AS2, SFTP/SSH, or HTTPS protocols.
- Encryption at rest for stored EDI documents and transaction logs.
- Digital certificates and signatures for authentication and non-repudiation.
- Access controls and role-based permissions for EDI system users.
- Audit trails for all document access and modifications.
Communication Protocol Security
Different EDI transmission protocols offer varying levels of security:
- AS2 - Industry standard for secure EDI. Uses SSL/TLS encryption, digital certificates, and MDN receipts for non-repudiation.
- SFTP - Secure File Transfer Protocol provides encrypted file transfers with SSH authentication.
- VAN - Value-Added Networks provide managed, secure document routing with built-in compliance.
- HTTPS/API - Modern REST APIs with OAuth 2.0 authentication and TLS encryption.
- OFTP2 - Odette File Transfer Protocol, common in European automotive supply chains.
Compliance & Regulatory Requirements
Depending on your industry, EDI security must comply with various regulations:
- SOC 2 Type II - Service Organization Control for security, availability, and confidentiality.
- HIPAA - Healthcare data protection requirements for EDI transactions.
- GDPR - European data privacy regulation affecting international EDI operations.
- PCI DSS - Payment card data security for financial EDI transactions.
- CCPA - California consumer privacy requirements.