Alternatives to digital certificates considered

Alternatives to digital certificates considered

The government is looking at alternative technology for authenticating users of its online services because of the failure of digital certificates to take-off in the UK.

E-envoy Andrew Pinder set up working groups late last year to address the slow adoption of digital certificates, but admitted the government must now look at other methods.

‘We hoped digital certificate use would take off more rapidly. The fact is they haven’t. We are looking at alternative methods of providing alternative authentication,’ said Pinder at a Public Accounts Committee.

These include the PIN and password method currently used by the Inland Revenue’s web site for filing tax returns and the use of banking and credit reference agencies to verify user details.

‘We are looking to see if we can partner up with any of these and we have been talking in recent months to potential partners,’ confirmed a spokeswoman for the Office of the E-envoy.

Although the government still sees digital certificates as the ideal method of authentication, it has to keep the options open in case the market fails to take off, she said.

The government estimates 15 to 20% of online government services will need strong authentication or signing.

Just last month Consignia closed down its digital certificate business, ViaCode, due to ‘slow development of the market and the company’s unsustainable financial position’.

That forced the British Chambers of Commerce’s digital certificate service, ChamberSign, for members to cease issuing new certificates until a new technology partner is found.

A report by analyst Datamonitor this week also said user interest in digital certificate and public key infrastructure technology is declining.

‘For PKI, the unexpected problems have meant that many are unwilling to invest in such a complicated technology,’ said the report.

Share

Subscribe to get your daily business insights

Resources & Whitepapers

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata
Professional Services

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folders and Embrace Metadata

3y

Why Professional Services Firms Should Ditch Folde...

In the past decade, the professional services industry has transformed significantly. Digital disruptions, increased competition, and changing market ...

View resource
2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professional Services Firms

3y

2 Vital keys to Remaining Competitive for Professi...

In recent months, professional services firms are facing more pressure than ever to deliver value to clients. Often, clients look at the firms own inf...

View resource
Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine
Accounting Firms

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

3y

Turn Accounts Payable into a value-engine

In a world of instant results and automated workloads, the potential for AP to drive insights and transform results is enormous. But, if you’re still ...

View resource
Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021
Making Tax Digital

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

3y

Digital Links: A guide to MTD in 2021

The first phase of Making Tax Digital (MTD) saw the requirement for the digital submission of the VAT Return using compliant software. That’s now behi...

View resource