Getting the public sector to secure their e-document systems

• Self-assessment tool let public bodies benchmark and plan e-document programmes
• eSAM expected to become catalyst for a strong peer-to-peer online community

THE Secure Identity Alliance has launched its eDocument Security Awareness Model (eSAM) – giving governments and public sector organisations a unique self-assessment tool with which to benchmark their current and future e-document projects.
 
Part of a global programme by the Secure Identity Alliance, the eDocument Security Awareness Model (eSAM) covers every element of the e-document lifecycle, from enrolment and issuance, through document design and personalisation, to support processes, the alliance said in a statement.
 
The Secure Identity Alliance was established to help public bodies across the world deliver e-government services to citizens through the widespread adoption of secure e-document technologies.
 
eSAM users will be able to analyse their programmes against best practice criteria in each of these areas to run and test possible scenarios, and benchmark projects against current operational deployments across the world.
 
Any data inputted by authorities within the tool will be fully anonymised, and a detailed report created that identifies potential areas for improvement and development, the alliance said in its statement.
 
Built on the expertise of its members, and based on participation from public authorities responsible for national e-document provision, eSAM will become the catalyst for a strong peer-to-peer online community, bringing professionals together to identify and discuss best practices, market and technology trends and future state development, it claimed.
 
“The operational and technical complexity of developing fully secure e-documents programmes is well known,” said Gareth Thomas, board member of the Secure Identity Alliance.
 
“Marrying the often-contradictory elements of security, end-user convenience and cost is no easy task. But it’s one all governments must face,” he added.
 
The Secure Identity Alliance believes the first step in this process is to define one version of the truth in terms of best practices – which it feels can only be done through the creation of a comprehensive (anonymised) database of every national e-document programme.
 
The eSAM will bring this vision to life, offering a deep insight into the current and future strategies being adopted by governments committed to responding to developing security and identity threats, and the emerging technologies and approaches being used to combat them, it said.
 
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