Global Trading: Internet Communication Standards

The Internet, as with VAN providers, uses its own communications protocols to ensure that electronic documents are transmitted securely. The most popular protocols are File Transfer Protocol Secure (FTPS), Hyper Text Transport Protocol Secure (HTTPS) and AS2.

AS2 is one of the most popular methods for transporting data securely and reliably over the Internet. An implementation of AS2 essentially involves two computers-a client and server-communicating with each other over the Internet. AS2 creates an envelope for a message which is then sent securely, via the use of digital certificates and encryption, over the Internet. The US retailer WAL*MART is a good example of a company who uses AS2 on a point-to-point basis to communicate to each and every one of its suppliers.