Yearly Archives: 2016

DIACC Releases Second PoC – Online Proof of Residency

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The Digital Identification and Authentication Council of Canada Releases Second Proof of Concept – Online Proof of Residency

Moving Real World Transactions Online – Building Canada’s Digital Economy

Toronto, June 14, 2016 – The Digital Identification and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC) today released its second proof of concept report – online proof of residency.

“Driving innovation and developing the frameworks that enable businesses and governments to move real world transactions online in a way that increases privacy, security and efficiency is a core focus for the DIACC and our members,” said Dave Nikolejsin, DIACC Chair.

Residency is used by governments, the private sector and the social-profit sector to ensure that eligible clients receive the products and services they need.  For example, residency is used to determine tuition fees for universities, provide access to regional business promotions, renew a driver’s licence and to enable access to community programs.

Today, to conduct a proof of residency clients must present themselves physically and provide a utility bill, financial statement or similar document that would demonstrate a tie to a physical address. This experience is neither privacy enhancing nor convenient for the client, and organizations are forced to maintain antiquated processes that are increasingly susceptible to fraud. In short, it is a lose-lose situation.

Recognizing this challenge, and an ongoing desire to move to digital services, the DIACC has undertaken a review of the opportunity to modernise a proof of residency experience; one that places the client, and their privacy, at the centre of the process.

“By putting the client at the centre of the proof of residency, the DIACC was able to focus on developing an online proof of residency framework that is privacy enhancing, secure, transparent, robust and efficient,” added Eros Spadotto, DIACC Vice-Chair and Executive Vice-President, Technology Strategy, TELUS. “Control is in the hands of the client. The client initiates any requests. No information is requested or shared without the express and clearly informed consent of the client”.

Building upon the success of the DIACC’s first proof of concept – enabling Canadian residents to open bank accounts entirely online – the DIACC is leveraging its unique combination of private and public sector members to develop made in Canada frameworks that will enable Canadian businesses, governments and citizens to leverage the global digital economy and drive innovation. The DIACC is committed to working with the Canadian government and all partners to develop an Innovation Agenda for Canada that works for all Canadians.

“Canadians are among the world’s top digital users. We spend over 40 hours a month on-line registering for school, interacting with governments, banking, shopping and connecting with friends and family. Canada’s total digital population is 29.4 million and growing,” said Graeme Gordon, DIACC Board member and Vice President of Digital Channels, Canada Post. “Canadians -our businesses, our governments, our social-profit community and our people – will all benefit from the innovation, security, and convenience of a more digitally connected Canada”.

About the Digital ID and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC)

Created as a result of the federal government’s Task Force for the Payments System Review, the DIACC is a non-profit coalition of public and private sector leaders committed to developing a Canadian digital identification and authentication framework to enable Canada’s full and secure participation the global digital economy. DIACC members include representatives from both the federal and provincial levels of government as well as private sector leaders.

The DIACC’s objective is to unlock economic opportunities for Canadian consumers, and businesses by providing the framework to develop a robust, secure, scalable and privacy enhancing digital identification and authentication ecosystem that will decrease costs for governments, consumers, and business while improving service delivery and driving GDP growth.

Contact:

twolf@diacc.ca

Spotlight on 2Keys

 2keys_logo_large In this edition of the DIACC member Spotlight, we chat with experts from 2Keys. Learn about their work, why they strongly believe Canada benefits from a unified set of Digital Identity Standards, and why they joined the DIACC league of experts.

1. What is the mission and vision of 2Keys?

2Keys was founded in 1998 upon the 3 tenets of Information Security: Confidentiality, Integrity and Availability. We are employee owned. Our mission is to help our clients create more secure digital experiences by providing best in class Cyber Security and Digital Identity Solutions.  We have 18 years of experience in Digital ID and authentication. We provide our clients with lifecycle capabilities in Policy, Operations and Technology.

2. Why is Digital Identity critical for your success?

We have been engaged in Digital Identity in both the public and private sectors since day one and the opportunities and challenges of Digital Identity just keep increasing. Digital Identity and authentication allows our clients and their user communities to meet their needs for secure, trusted and always available access to online services and transactions.

Digital Identity and authentication helps to eliminate inefficient and manual paper-based processes and transactions as it also adds value by providing a more secure and private user experience. It can also help an enterprise understand better how to serve its user communities going forward.

With almost two decades of experience in the public and private sectors providing consulting, system development, systems integration, and managed (i.e. outsourced) 24/7 Digital Identity and authentication services, 2Keys is well positioned in the Canadian marketplace to help make Digital Identity a reality.

3. What strategic goals does 2Keys target to achieve in the next 5 years?

We have three strategic goals with respect to Digital Identity: Share our experiences and expertise to help in the development and adoption of Canadian Digital Identity standards; help the Canadian public and private sectors implement and realize the business and security benefits of Digital Identity; and lastly and most importantly, to help improve the range and availability of secure privacy enhancing online services for all Canadians.

2Keys is a strong supporter of Digital Identity standards, supporting the work of the Government of Canada Identity Management Sub Committee on Pan-Canadian Digital Identity Standards as well as the work being done by DIACC on Digital Identity and Identity Proofing.  2Keys envisions a future where these standards will merge into a single unified set of Digital Identity Standards for Canada.

4. What else would you like us to know about 2Keys?

2Keys looks to be a trusted advisor for the public and private sector in Cyber Security and Digital Identity – from policy, to system design, development and integration, to technology selection, to operations and security monitoring and response.  With a range of capabilities from on-site security consulting to fully managed and hosted services, 2Keys has a depth of knowledge and experience in the Canadian Marketplace.  Our Managed Security Services portfolio includes Credential and Identity as a Service, Virtual CISO (vCISO), PKI and HSM as a Service, and SOC as a Service. Lastly while we regularly work with commercial products we are also advocates of the benefits of open standards and open source technologies.

5. Why did you join DIACC?

DIACC is the organization leading the mobilization of the private sector to harmonize public sector approaches to Digital Identity and authentication with private sector needs and opportunities on Digital Identity and Digital Identity Standards in Canada.  We share this objective. DIACC is an organization that is positioned to play an increasingly important role – and it’s also a great place for 2Keys to continue to learn and develop our capabilities and experiences. 2Keys has contributed and will continue to contribute to the good work being done by DIACC.

Digital Identity Transformation Pillars

DIACC initiatives address the priorities of Canadian government and economic sectors by advancing trustworthy digital identity and related services as critical enablers of Canada’s modernization of digital services delivery and participation in the global digital economy.

The Prime Minister calls upon the orders of Canadian government and economic sectors to address three critical pillars as critical to Canada’s participation in the digital transformation:

The DIACC has adopted 10 principles for the Canadian digital identity ecosystem to guide our work. To secure Canada’s full and beneficial participation in the digital economy at home and abroad, DIACC members have the benefit of collaboratively developing and establishing:

  • the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework;
  • innovative proofs of concept real-world solutions;
  • informative research and reports.

We invite leaders from all sectors to join the DIACC to shape Canadian digital identity innovations.

The digital transformation is commonly described as “the changes associated with the application of digital technology in all aspects human society.”

This definition illustrates the connection between “digital technology” and “all aspects of human society.” Predictable and trustworthy connections between people, entities and things are foundational elements that support a thriving society.

Identity is an enabler of beneficial and predictable relationship connections in the real and digital worlds. The digital identity transformation represents the innovations, technology, policy, and practices that address digital identity as the enabler connecting people, entities, and things.

Addressing the needs of the digital transformation requires trustworthy digital identity and access management to enable nearly every aspect of the application of digital technologies to society.

Governments and economic sectors around the world are developing digital transformation strategies to address local jurisdictional priorities as well as to ensure that the “next billion” persons in under developed regions, both at home and abroad, are able to get connected in a way that respects their local sovereignty, rights, and cultures.

For more information please contact us.

Spotlight on Notarius

 notarius In this edition of the DIACC member Spotlight, we chat with experts from Notarius. Learn about their work, why they believe strong digital documents need more industry-wide attention, and why they joined the DIACC league of experts.

1. What is the mission and vision of Notarius?

Mission: Notarius is the Canadian leader in digital signatures and the creation of authentic electronic documents. By providing state-of- the-art technology solutions, we empower professionals, governments and several industries to create, manage and preserve high reliability electronic documents privately, safely and legally. Over time, Notarius aims to become a worldwide leader in the management of official documents.

Vision: Digital economies are based on two constructs: transactions and documents. Transactions are often ephemeral and typically require authentication of who is conducting the transaction. Documents, in a digital economy, require technologically sound and legally reliable ways of binding a digital identity to an electronic document and provide irrefutable proof of origin and integrity over a period of time. Currently, the Canadian economy is, to varying degrees, hampered by a continued reliance on paper documents. Notarius’ vision is to promote digital economies by providing technologically sound and legally reliable solutions to empower reliable electronic documents for the digital economy.

2. Why is Digital Identity critical for your success? 

All official documents – an official document being a document with high reliability requirements (origin, integrity, authenticity and sometimes longevity) – originate from a person, persons or an organization. Documents become official when they are finalized with a signature. Signing means binding your identity to a document. At Notarius, we constantly research and develop ways to implement digital identities with the right mix of reliability and ease of use. Digital identities are critical to our success because there can be no official electronic documents without robust, effective and efficient digital identities.

3. With regard to Digital Identity, what strategic goals does Notarius target to achieve in the next 5 years?

  • Consolidate its position as strategic advisor and trusted solution provider with regards to official documents;
  • Develop and implement a flexible digital identity model with variable attributes (professional status, affiliations, etc.);
  • Augment the portfolio of Notarius technology solutions to progressively cover the entire spectrum of managing official documents;
  • Significantly increase our presence in the Government, Professional, Banking, Finance, Insurance and Academic sectors.

4. What else would you like us to know about Notarius? 

Notarius adheres and promotes socially and ecologically minded values. Notarius was created by the Chamber of Notaries in 1998 to modernize how notaries practiced law. At the very core of our company are therefore the values of the notarial profession in Québec which include a very strong document reliability focus. Notaries, under civil law, are empowered to create authentic documents. Notarius has since then flourished and now serves over 25 professional associations throughout Canada which share a similar vision of empowering their members to create authentic electronic documents – engineers, architects, lawyers, accountants, land surveyors,

Recently, Notarius has decided to move beyond the professional industry to serve the needs of all organizations and industries with strong document reliability requirements. As a result, for example, Notarius will secure the information and documents of two provincial land registries in Canada.

5. Why did you join DIACC?

DIACC brings together public and private sector on the specific issue of digital identities which is the number one issue for the continued success of Notarius. We joined DIACC because we perceived a DIACC focus on transactions as opposed to documents – the latter aspect appearing to be somewhat overlooked. We believe strongly that there can be no successful digital economy unless the specific legal and technology issues relating to binding identities to documents are discussed and resolved in the form of recognized standards, awareness & education, and inclusion in proofs-of- concept. This is our specific and distinguishable contribution to DIACC.

DIACC 2016 AGM Registration Open

DIACC Members attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) for the latest inside information on the development and adoption of the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework, our Proofs of Concept pilots, and more.

Join DIACC now to secure your priorities are represented in Canada’s full participation in the Digital Transformation and global Digital Economy.

Why attend the DIACC AGM?

DIACC Members attend the AGM to connect with Canadian leaders of Digital Identity. This year DIACC Members will share presentations and panels connecting legacies of Digital Identity research the innovations ahead. You’ll network with peers, partners, and competitors to share knowledge, resources, and tackle common problems.
 

Register Now
 
When: June 14, 9am-5pm
Where: Telus House, 25 York Street, 3rd Floor, Toronto, ON
 
A very special thank you to Telus for hosting the DIACC AGM!

Stay June 15-16 to attend Identity North, Canada’s premier Identity Event, where DIACC Members gain a special discount after the early bird rate closes!

DIACC Federal Pre-Budget Submission 2016

Investing Together in Canada’s Digital Social and Economic Infrastructure

2016 Pre-Budget Submission by the Digital Identity and Authentication Council of Canada (DIACC)

A large part of Canada’s 20th century prosperity was made possible by nation-building projects – projects that without leadership from the government of Canada would not have been possible.

Throughout Canada’s history, our country has been shaped by visionaries who understood that Canada’s strength lies in connection, collaboration and innovation.

In the same way that building the railway stimulated new engineering and led to spin off and ancillary business opportunities, the move toward trusted digital authentication will create greater demand for skilled resources and new technologies.

Just as the railway increased employment opportunities and enabled Canadians to participate in society on a more equal footing, digital identification will create a more level playing field across Canada.

Read the full text below in the DIACC Canadian Federal Pre-Budget Submission…

[gview file=”https://diacc.ca/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/Digital-ID-and-Authentication-Council-of-Canada-Pre-Budget-Submission-.pdf”]

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