What is AS4?
At Celtrino, we utilise AS4 throughout our many EDI managed services. AS4 (Applicability Statement 4) was developed for ebXML messaging services by OASIS (the Organisation for the Advancement of Structured Information Standards) in 2013 and is sometimes referred to as EDIINT AS4. It is a communication protocol designed to facilitate the secure exchange of business data over the internet.
AS4 is a superset of AS2, which is now based on SOAP and Web Services to provide greater interoperability with the broader B2B market. The technology is HTTP-based. It runs as a web server and client using the HTTP protocol. What differentiates this from using a standard web server is the format of the transferred message. Many AS4 applications run on top of a standard web server. It can also run over HTTPS (SSL).
2013
AS4 becomes an OASIS standard for secure and payload-agnostic document exchange using web services.
2015
Drummond Group publishes an AS4 FAQ on the Wayback Machine.
2016
PEPPOL adopted AS4
2020
AS4 becomes an ISO standard.
What Is AS2 and AS4 and How Do They Differ?
How secure is AS4?
AS4 messages include several security benefits that ensure the data passed through is protected at each journey stage. To ensure maximum security, Applicability Statement 4 provides:
- Password authentication, ensuring that access is limited to secure users.
- A digital signature provides proof that messages originated with verified sources.
- A range of encryption protects the data throughout the process.
- TLS Transport Security confirms the authenticity and integrity of the data in transit.
- XML signatures and MDN receipts ensure non-repudiation.
- X509 security tokens bind a user’s identity to a public key using a digital signature.
What are the benefits of AS4?
AS4 provides many benefits over alternative communication protocols, the most obvious being the ability to use modern web services such as SOAP to transfer the data. Using web services instantly makes this communication protocol more accessible to businesses that already use web services for a range of other applications. This also makes the communication protocol more accessible to developing countries where skills for older technology platforms aren’t available.
AS4 provides robust security around the transfer of data. The use of AS4 often facilitates the movement of sensitive trading documents, so this additional security is crucial.
Standard AS4 provides the visibility and audit trail required to track data through the EDI network and confirm the sending and receipt of a message. Many alternative communication protocols rely on multiple networks to transmit a message, which often causes issues when a message fails.
Lastly, the technology supports large file compressions, providing greater flexibility for businesses that exchange complex files and rich datasets.
Why You Should Choose Celtrino for Your AS4 Solution?
Where can AS4 be used?
AS4 can be used by any organisation that wants to send and receive documents electronically in safe, secure and encrypted transmissions.
Suppliers in the public sector and the Peppol network would find it particularly useful, as Peppol only supports AS4 now.
Increasingly used in markets that use a service-orientated architecture for B2B messaging, for example, utilities, retail and health sectors.
AS4 can be a replacement for customers who currently use AS2/SFTP/FTP clients.
Advantages of AS4?
Designed to push and pull data securely and reliably over the internet
24/7 availability, fast and reliable connectivity
Encryption ensures that only the sender and receiver can view the data
Digital signatures ensure authentication so only messages from authorised senders are accepted
Why Choose Celtrino?
We have over 30 years’ worth of experience exchanging electronic documents
We collaborate and share data safely outside your own company
We simplify security to allow you access data for improved efficiency
We offer unparalleled support & customer satisfaction
Get in Touch
You can learn more about Applicability Statement 4 by exploring our case studies and discovering how we have offered EDI solutions and EDI integration across multiple industries.
If you have any questions about how AS4 works or just general EDI questions you’d like to discuss or would like to learn more about us, be sure to contact us, and a member of our dedicated team will be happy to help.