The chief information officer of the Australian Government Information Management Office, Ann Steward, said the information management strategy committee had agreed to introduce a new authentication framework for use across government. "That's very much aimed at having a simplified and more consistent approach to the way in which we would identify different interactions," she said.
The framework set out bronze, silver, gold and platinum levels for authentication, Ms Steward said.
"It depends on what level of transaction you are doing and what type of transaction."
For example, a high-value or sensitive transaction would be rated on the sliding scale to determine what level of authentication would be required.
She said the project aimed to make it easier for agencies to decide what type of authentication was required, rather than "establishing yet another type of certificate".
"That's under development now, and it will provide a significant benefit to business and to our own agencies," Ms Steward said.
The Tax office already had a certificate that recognised it had attained the "silver" level, and Defence had another accredited at "platinum".
Work was under way with agencies to further "populate" the authentication levels.
Special Minister of State Senator Eric Abetz said last week at the Southeast Asia Regional Computer Confederation (SEARCC) conference that the Government would reveal further details of its over-arching e-government strategy in coming months.
Believed to be a key way of improving service delivery, e-government aims to make it easier for citizens and businesses to deal with government by allowing extensive online interaction.
Autor: Chris Jenkins
Quelle: Australian IT, 04.10.2005
