News - Authentication framework

Authentication framework builds trust in online service delivery

May 2002

Cabinet has endorsed a policy framework to guide future thinking about how people might identify themselves before an agency delivers certain information or services to them over the Internet.

The framework is timely. Some agencies, such as the New Zealand Immigration Service, already authenticate users of their online visa application service. And as more services are offered this way, other agencies will be inevitably be following suit.

One of the aims of the policy framework is to ensure agencies take a consistent approach to electronic authentication. People are more likely to develop confidence in their online dealings with government if they see agencies taking a consistent, sensible and secure approach to the protection of their information and the delivery of services they are personally entitled to.

The framework ensures that the need to provide authentication is limited and is appropriate to the type of service being offered online. While the use of a password may be appropriate for one kind of online service, stronger authentication may be needed for another.

The framework also ensures that users will have a choice to opt for online authentication or to authenticate their identity and carry out the transactions offline. It will, however, not be possible for users to conduct secure transactions without the use of the appropriate authentication process.

As directed by Cabinet, Public Service agencies planning to incorporate authentication in their current or future online services must contact the e-government authentication team (e-government@ssc.govt.nz).