GEOS-DP-007 — Data Pipeline Integrity & Tamper Resistance Requirements

Version 1.0 Status: Normative Specification

0. Interpretive Basis ————————-

GEOS-DP-007 specifies the integrity and tamper-resistanc requirements that a Data Pipeline MUST satisfy to be eligible for GEOS certification.

This specification is technology-independent and artifact-centric. It defines properties of the Data Pipeline as an auditable artifact, not of any Data Source, platform, or organization.

This specification:

• defines required integrity properties of certified Data Pipelines;

• establishes minimum controls against manipulation, replay, substitution, and silent alteration; and

• supports finance-grade reliance under uncertainty.

This specification:

• does not prescribe implementation technologies;

• does not certify Data Sources or downstream artifacts;

• does not define audit procedures (see GEOS-DP-003); and

• does not define Entry or Exit formats (see GEOS-DP-004) an GEOS-DP-005.

1. Integrity Objectives —————————

A GEOS-certified Data Pipeline MUST ensure that:

• data entering the Pipeline cannot be silently altered during processing;

• transformations applied within the Pipeline are detectable and attributable;

• outputs correspond exactly to declared inputs and transformations; and

• any attempt to manipulate, replay, or substitute data is detectable through audit.

Integrity is evaluated with respect to the Pipeline boundary, from Entry to Exit.

2. Immutability Requirements ——————————--

A Data Pipeline MUST enforce immutability of:

• data elements after acceptance at the Entry boundary; and

• intermediate artifacts once generated within a processing stage.

Immutability MAY be logical or physical, but MUST ensure that:

• post hoc modification is not possible without detection; and

• any permitted corrections result in a new, versioned artifact rather than overwriting.

3. Transformation Determinism ———————————

All transformations performed within the Data Pipeline MUST be:

• deterministic with respect to declared inputs and parameters; and

• reproducible given the same inputs, versions, and configuration.

Non-deterministic operations (e.g., random sampling) MUST:

• declare their randomness sources; and

• record sufficient information to enable replay under audit.

4. Replay and Duplication Controls ————————————--

A Data Pipeline MUST include controls to detect and prevent:

• duplicate submission of identical Entry artifacts;

• replay of previously accepted data as new input; and

• recombination of prior intermediate artifacts in unauthorized contexts.

Controls MAY include identifiers, hashes, timestamps, or equivalent mechanisms, provided their function is auditable.

5. Substitution and Injection Resistance ——————————————--

A Data Pipeline MUST ensure that:

• no data element can be substituted for another without detection; and

• no undeclared data can be injected between Entry and Exit.

Each processing stage MUST be able to demonstrate:

• the provenance of its inputs; and

• the continuity of processing from prior stages.

6. Version Locking ———————-

A certified Data Pipeline MUST bind integrity guarantees to:

• specific versions of processing logic;

• declared configuration parameters; and

• declared dependency versions.

Changes to any of the above MUST result in:

• a new Pipeline version; and

• explicit re-evaluation of certification status.

7. Failure Visibility ————————-

A Data Pipeline MUST ensure that integrity failures are:

• detectable;

• recorded as audit-relevant events; and

• non-silent.

A Pipeline MUST NOT emit Exit artifacts when integrity conditions are violated without explicit indication of failure.

8. Technology Neutrality —————————-

This specification:

• does not mandate cryptographic methods;

• does not require specific storage systems; and

• does not prescribe architectural patterns.

Any implementation that demonstrably satisfies the integrity objectives and requirements herein MAY be certified.

9. Relationship to Other Specifications ——————————————-

This specification:

• depends on GEOS-DP-001 for Pipeline scope and boundaries

• complements GEOS-DP-006 for traceability and lineage; an

• constrains certification under GEOS-DP-002.

This specification declares dependencies only.

END of "GEOS-DP-007 — Data Pipeline Integrity & Tamper Resistanc Requirements"