SORM Requirements Integrated at the Network Design Stage
The Russian Ministry of Digital Development has published a draft order for public discussion titled “On Amendments to the Requirements for the Design of Telecommunications Networks, approved by Order No. 101 of the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation dated March 9, 2017.” This draft was developed in accordance with decisions made by the Security Council of the Russian Federation. According to the explanatory note, the document “is of great importance for ensuring the integrity and stability of the public communications network and the national security of Russia.”
The draft order establishes requirements for the preparation of telecommunications network design documentation, as well as the procedures for storing and accessing this documentation. As noted by the Telegram channel “Telecom Review,” all SORM (System for Operative Investigative Activities) solutions and documentation must be determined and obtained already at the network design stage. The draft order, among other things, provides for:
- Expanding the sections of the design documentation,
- Specifying the period and form of project storage (the original is kept permanently by the operator, while the authentic copy is stored for one year by the design organization),
- Introducing a dedicated section on SORM implementation.
This SORM section must include the general principles of SORM construction and its organizational scheme; technical requirements for connecting SORM to control panels throughout the service area; a list and composition of communication tools, justification for the choice of SORM equipment and software; a description of the placement of SORM equipment, and other relevant details.
The public discussion period ends on June 25, 2020. If you have comments or suggestions, you can leave them on the document’s page.