What is AS2? (Non-Technical Answer)

AS2 is a method for sending data between two parties. AS2 is a method for sending data (generally EDI data) securely and reliably between two parties without having a third-party involved (such as a VAN).

What is AS2? (Technical Answer)

AS2 which is short for Applicability Statement 2 and is also known as EDIINT or EDI over the Internet is a specification that defines a method to securely and reliably transfer EDI data using the HTTP protocol.

What is AS2? (Somewhere in Between)

AS2 is a specification or guideline that describes a process for sending data (generally EDI data) that is secure and reliable. The delivery method that it specifies is HTTP or HTTPs (the secure version of HTTP) which are the same transport methods or protocols that you use every day when browsing web pages. The organizational structure of messages that are sent via AS2 is known as Secure Multipurpose Internet Mail Extension (S/MIME) which is the identical structure that is used to define what an e-mail looks like. So you already use most of the building blocks of AS2, the AS2 specification just combines them for a single purpose. AS2 messages are secure because they are signed and encrypted using the private/public key pairs of you and your trading partners. And AS2 is reliable because it encourages trading partners to use Message Disposition Notifications (MDNs) or receipts to indicate that they have received an AS2 message and whether or not they found it to be valid.

Why use AS2?

Companies use AS2 for 2 reasons. The first reason is that, by definition, AS2 ensures that their business data is secure and that it was sent reliably. Because the definition of the AS2 specification mandates the use of MDNs (receipts) companies can know without a doubt that their trading partner received their data. Likewise, because the specification defines the use of signing and encrypting, companies can rest assured that their data is safe. The second reason that companies use AS2 is that it removes "the middle man". Historically EDI data was sent using Value Added Networks (VANs). VANs are an added cost that is eliminated when companies are able to send directly to each other.

How Do I Get AS2?

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Related Links

AS2 Complete Product Page   Free AS2 Complete Trial

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