The Unified Compliance Framework (UCF) XML schema standards are designed to promote a unified compliance control content framework and structure in order to standardize the transfer of this information across the entire spectrum of security tools and services.

The goal of the UCF XML project is to provide a standard, generally accepted XML schema to facilitate the movement of UCF related data from one software program to the next, and from one organization to the next.

If deployed properly, the schema should help:

• • Reduce the costs of moving data from one program to the next, one organization to the next

  • Reduce the costs of updating (rolling forward) or backdating (rolling back) the UCF content

  • Reduce errors associated with that movement of data

  • Reduce compliance management software development costs and shorten development cycles

  • Increase the transparency of the entire electronic discovery process

The UCF schema is simple and yet complex

The UCF's XML schema is divided into multiple individually simple XML lists, that when combined together, form a complex and powerful compliance library. A large PDF of the schema can be downloaded HERE.

Each and every one of the UCF's XML schemas, as well as the rules for mapping data into that schemas, is documented at the Network Frontiers site under the UCF XML heading. In addition, XML based reports (such as the Role Description and Metrics Reporting standards) are also described there. As the UCF's schemas are updated, the Network Frontiers' website will be updated as well.

In addition, the UCF team will maintain an XML schema mapping representation of the above diagram online HERE in Altova's MapForce format (which can be obtained HERE).

Copyright of UCF created materials

Although the UCF materials may provide information concerning potential legal issues, they are not a substitute for legal advice from qualified counsel. You should not and are not authorized to rely on this material as a source of legal advice. Your use of this site does not create any attorney-client relationship between you and Latham & Watkins LLP.

You are permitted to use the UCF XML Standards and other materials on the condition that you indemnify and hold harmless the Unified Compliance Framework (UCF), Network Frontiers LLC, Latham & Watkins LLP, and their respective directors, partners, officers, agents, and employees, from any and all liability or damages to yourself or your hardware or software, or third parties, including attorneys' fees, court costs, and other related costs and expenses, arising out of your use of the UCF XML standards irrespective of the cause of said liability.

Copyright 2007-2010 The Unified Compliance Framework (UCF), Network Frontiers LLC, and Latham & Watkins LLP. All rights reserved.

THE UCF XML STANDARDS AND OTHER MATERIALS ARE MADE AVAILABLE ON AN "AS IS" BASIS WITHOUT ANY WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE ACCURACY, CAPABILITY, EFFICIENCY, MERCHANTABILITY, NONINFRINGEMENT, OR FUNCTIONALITY. USE OF THE XML STANDARDS AND OTHER MATERIALS IS AT YOUR OWN RISK. WE PERIODICALLY ADD, CHANGE, IMPROVE OR UPDATE THE UCF XML STANDARDS, INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS WITHOUT NOTICE. AND WE ASSUME NO LIABILITY OR RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ERRORS OR OMISSIONS THEREIN. UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES AND UNDER NO LEGAL THEORY SHALL THE UNIFIED COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK (UCF), NETWORK FRONTIERS LLC, OR LATHAM & WATKINS LLP BE LIABLE FOR ANY DIRECT, INDIRECT, GENERAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INCIDENTAL, EXEMPLARY, PUNITIVE OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF THE UNIFIED COMPLIANCE FRAMEWORK (UCF), NETWORK FRONTIERS LLC, OR LATHAM & WATKINS LLP HAVE BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT FAIR USAGE OF THE UCF XSDs may be found within the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike license found here: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/legalcode

Copyright of externally created materials

From time to time the UCF will adapt, in part, the UCF's XSD structures to XSD structures that have been created by external parties, with permission from those parties. Each adaptation is solely at the request of the party's material being adapted. The UCF team recognizes each party's contribution and will attribute ownership and copyright to that party within the confines of the XSD to which the material has been adapted, and within the confines of the copyright provided by the third party.