The new system, on the other hand, redirects users to a standard sign-in page, where they are required to enter an alphanumeric password before gaining entry.
Willie Tan, CPF board’s general manager said: “With SingPass, users will not need to visit government offices for services and as they can access these securely anytime with just a single password.”
The new SingPass (Singapore Personal Access) scheme was developed by the pension fund management body the Central Provident Fund (CPF) Board and launched in conjunction with the Ministry of Finance at a cost of S$5 million (US$2.8 million).
To protect users, the CPF board has incorporated multiple layers of security. For example, the information is hosted on a secure government data center and encryption is used from the end user terminal all to the way to the back end.
While all government departments in the city-state have committed to using the new authentication system, Singaporeans will have to wait till next year for the full spectrum of services, said a spokesman.
Today, about 100 services which are accessible through SingPass but these will be increased to 400 by end next year. For now, users can use their SingPass identification to request for CPF statements and cash in government-issued shares, among others, he said.
The CPF Board said SingPass passwords can be obtained immediately from its offices and selected community centers, and a request can also be made through post offices.
Passwords will also be sent to all new CPF account holders and people have been just been issued with their identity cards and employment passes. For existing CPF account holders, they will be prompted to enter a new SingPass password when they next log into the board’s online services.
e-services have been a focal point of the authorities in the island-state. In September 2000, the Singapore government unveiled a S$1.5 billion (US$860 million) plan to promote IT initiatives in the public sector, with electronic services delivery being a major thrust.
As a result of this push, Singaporeans now have access to hundreds of Web services run by different government departments, offering everything from the renewal of driving licenses to the filing of income tax returns.
Quelle: cnet Asia
