Hello everyone
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This Director's Corner comes a few days late, such is the level of activity in Kantara in recent weeks. Some of it has been announced but there is another major announcement scheduled for this week with more beyond.
Last month I mentioned how governments around the world are announcing plans to bring in legislation regarding digital identity within a few weeks (even days!) of each other. So, when I was asked by Think Digital Partners to write a piece as part of my role on its Advisory Board, I chose to write about this topic. It is quite intriguing, in one sense, given just how close these announcements are to each other. But, in another sense, it is understandable. In that post, I talk about why that might be, as well as share the scope of planned legislation to the extent of my knowledge. My observations are broadly restricted to the 'five nations' common law countries not only because I am most familiar with them, but also three of the five are Kantara members. You'll hear more on that subject this coming week!As we begin what may turn out to be a history-making tumultuous first full week in October, I'm finding it quite calming and satisfying to reflect on the month just past. Kantara's slew of announcements in September continued into October. Kantara's conformity assessment, assurance, approval and Trust Mark program continues to draw global recognition, largely reflected in the new members joining last month - Exostar, Mastercard International, Oxyliom Solutions from the EMEA and the US Federal Government's GSA. The latter's rejoining provided a useful platform to launch a regular call cadence amongst reps from the Australian, NZ and US agency members of Kantara that operate digital identity services. Such indicators, along with the Kantara - SAFE Identity announcement to cross-recognize each other's Trust Marks at full service equivalency, are early signs of maturation of the digital identity ecosystem and hopefully the sunset on the 'gold rush' phase that has thwarted it in recent years.
The supreme (largely volunteer) efforts of the Identity Assurance Working Group to develop the assessment criteria that are foundational to the operation of the the Trust Framework deserve a special mention here. It was great to see the successful All-Member-Ballot approving the level 3's of the NIST 800-63-3 Digital Identity Guidelines with the support of ID.me that underwrote the costs of the technical editor. Kantara's community oriented, transparent and cost-free Working & Discussion Groups - Identity Assurance, Health Identity Assurance, Privacy & Identity mDL, Federation Federated Identifiers for Resilient Ecosystems, Federation Interop, Information Sharing Interop and UMA -
I do think, however, that there is an emerging pattern. Kantara has a highly reputable, globally recognized assurance program for accrediting assessors and approving that applicant service providers' solutions are conformant with a given standard - NIST SP 800-63-3 being most sought after in recent times. COVID-19 has put the spotlight on the need for more digital interaction with government by its citizens and with consumers more broadly. Digital identity is fundamental to addressing those interactions, especially if they are higher risk transactions for payments etc from Government. Ergo, public sector interest in Kantara. That's my theory anyway, but I'd welcome your view! This circle of interdependence is something that the Board recognizes too, as members will see in the next couple of months when its review, and refresh, of Kantara's strategic direction and priorities are presented for wider review and comment.
Remember also that Kantara is structured so as to enable its community working groups and discussion groups to act as the steward for the frameworks and associated assessment criteria for conformance to standards within those frameworks. While not all projects, from all groups, lean this way, when they do, great synergy can be achieved. For example, the IAWG, which is comprised of experts from the private, public and Higher Education sectors as well as individuals and accredited assessors, develop the assessment criteria for Kantara’s Identity Assurance Program. Alongside developing submissions to requests for contributions on digital identity-related matters as part of Kantara’s global civic duty, IAWG also develops the assessment criteria needed for the accredited assessors to consistently assess and report their findings on applicant service provider solutions.
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