This page presents an overview of the AARC2 actions and results during the first year of the project (May 2017 – May 2018).

Check also the AARC2 leaflet with a summary of the results. 

Who is AARC2 target audience?

AARC2 addresses research collaborations and e-infrastructures that either are already deploying or are in the process to deploy an AAI that is AARC- compliant. Compared to AARC1, AARC2 is much more closer to the research collaborations; a number of them (12 of 23 ESFRI Projects) are participating in AARC2 and work together with the AARC team to deploy an AAI that is compliant with the AARC Blueprint Architecture.

What does AARC2 do?

AARC2 works together with research collaborations and e-infrastructures architects participating in the project to further develop the AARC Blueprint Architecture (BPA) produced during the AARC1 project, to define  technical and policy guidelines to ease the implementation of AARC compliant AAIs and to ensure that these guidelines are deployed by research and e-infrastructures beyond the AARC2 project remit (via AEGIS).

AARC2 offers consultancy to research collaborations (in AARC2 and beyond) to help them pilot a suitable AAI that meets their needs and that is compliant with the AARC Blueprint.

AARC2 Results in 2017-2018

• New version of the AARC Blueprint Architecture - The Blueprint Architecture delivered by AARC1 was one of the foundations for the AARC2 project to build upon. AARC2 has continued to work on the AARC Blueprint Architecture (AARC BPA) to address authorisation aspects and to make more research communities centric. This has been and will remain for some time a cornerstone for those in charge of designing an AAI for their research collaboration. The new version of the BPA will be available in June 2018.
• Documents, guidelines and policy frameworks 
  
  • Deliverables and milestones - These documents were defined as part of the AARC2 description of work.
    
    • The list of deliverables and milestones for Y1 is available on the wiki as well as on the AARC site.
  • Guidelines - AARC2 produces different  technical and policy guidelines to support the deployment  of the AARC BPA in research collaborations and to address interoperability across infrastructures. AARC2 produceded 6 guidelines in Y1 (for a DOI is assigned and they are available in zenodo):

    • AARC-G021    Exchange of specific assurance information between Infrastructures

    • AARC-G029    Guidelines on stepping up the authentication component in AAIs implementing the AARC BPA

    • AARC-G031    Guidelines for evaluating the combined assurance of linked identities

    • AARC-G040    Preliminary Proxy Policy Recommendations (application to the LS AAI)

    • AARC-G041    Expression of REFEDS RAF assurance components for identities derived from social media accounts

    • AARC-G042   Data Protection Impact Assessment - an initial guide for communities

Guidelines that have a general purpose and are meant to facilitate inter-operability across infrastructures are discussed by the AEGIS group for endorsement.  The "AARC Engagement Group for InfrastructureS" (AEGIS) has establish bi-directional channels between AARC2 and infrastructures (that deploy or are in the process of deploying an AARC compliant AAI) to advise each other on the developments and production integration aspects of the AARC results. The current guidelines endorsed by AEGIS are:

• • • Guidelines on expressing group membership and role information (AARC-G002)  - This guidelined was produced in AARC1 and endorsed in Nov 2017
    • Exchange of specific assurance information between Infrastructures (AARC-G021) - endorsed in March 2018
      
      
  • In addition to the guideline and the deliverables, the policy team progressed the work on Snctifi, produced an Acceptable User Policy Template and delivered the AARC Policy Toolkit to address security and privacy aspects related to the AARC BPA. AARC2 also coordinated a security incident and Incident Simulation Report about it.
    

• Training - Training events for the research collaborations participating in AARC and infoshare are organised as needed.
• Engagment with other bodies - AARC2 sponsors active participation in different international initiatives such as REFEDS (where Sirtfi and Assurance topics are discussed), FIM4R (where research communities requirements are discussed) and IGTF (where R&E relaying parties meets to discuss policy coordination).

Where and how is AARC2 work promoted?

There two main ways used to promote AARC2 results:

• By presenting at relevant events; we keep track of major events where we promote AARC and of other relevant AARC publications.
• Via the AARC website: check out the AARC in Action section on the AARC website to find out more.

Social media are also used to promote results at large.