Web standards and protocols: evolution, governance, and impact

Standards Protocols

Standards and Protocols

What are standards/protocols?

The evolution and proliferation of web usage has prompted the need for a wide variance of governing rules, regulations and conventions. The purposes of these standards and protocols is to promote consistency, control and oversight even as new communication and data exchange technologies emerge. Thus, simply stated, a web or network protocol is a system regulating the format of messages being exchanged across said network. The wide host of telecommunications, media and computing devices in circulation invoke the use of an equally wide host of protocols.

How did specific standards/protocols evolve for each standard-setting body?

Each standard setting body functions as a forum through which research is constantly conducted and published, including evaluation of existing technologies, emergent protocols and regulatory conditions on the horizon. Thus, standards created and promoted by such organizations as the IEEE and the ISO are themselves in a constant state of advancing illumination. Therefore, best practices can effectively be refined, improved and influenced by either identification of emergent security concerns or integration of new technologies.

How do the evolved standards/protocols impact technology?

As the technologies at our disposal evolve, so too does the demand to promote quality control and consistency. Indeed, in both of these objectives are couched considerable security concerns. As the Javvin Company (2009) reports, in many instances entirely new protocols will emerge in response to changing standards and industry best practices. This is in many ways the marvel of an evolving technology sector which has shown a great capacity for responsiveness to changing regulatory conditions. According to the Javvin Company, "network communication is an evolution process - today's new technologies are based on years accumulations of existing or obsolete technologies. Because of that, the protocols, which define the network communication, are highly inter-related. Many protocols rely on others for operation. For example, many routing protocols use other network protocols to exchange information between routers." (Javvin Company, p. 1) This is a demonstration of how the need to respond to evolving standards has prompted innovation in response.

What are the policies that can dictate mandatory and, if appropriate, optional use of standards/protocols?

An array of organizations exist to govern the way that certain protocols are used, to help maintain consistency there within and to provide counsel on achieving best practices. Block (2011) identifies the ISO and the IEC as two such organizations. Policies descending from the research findings and White Papers offers by these organizations can manifest either as mandatory regulatory standards or simply as options conditions the adherence to which can significantly impact marketability and reputation. (Block, p.1 )

Works Cited:

Block, P. (2011). Network Standards and Protocols. Philblock.info.

Cahill, S. (2010). Networking Standards and Protocols. SlideShare.net.

Javvin Company (JC). (2009). Network Protocols: Definition and Overview. Javvin.com.

Webopedia. (2011). Wireless Networking Standards Webopedia.com.