I am getting an increasing amount of information about UK Verify and am wondering who knows what it actually is. So, here goes...
GOV.UK Verify is the new secure means of accessing government services. To be able to do so requires certification via one of a list of companies certified to verify the individual’s identity. The company chosen to do the certification will ask for personal information before confirming this to the government department for which identity verification is being sought (eg to HMRC).
It is being sold on the basis that using certified companies makes GOV.UK Verify a safer, simpler and faster way of accessing government services online. It is at this time that I put on my “doubting Thomas” hat. Not that I am against development, rather that security issues that have arisen in the past give me cause for concern. We are then told that it is safe because information is not stored centrally, and there’s no unnecessary sharing of information. Apparently, whichever company is chosen to go through the certification process does not know which service the applicant is trying to access, and conversely, the government department doesn’t know which certifying company is being used. What concerns me is what level of personal/financial information is needed to get the certification/ We are being told that it is fast and simple because everything can be done online, without any need to prove identity in person, or waiting for something in the post. The test will be when it actually goes live, but I am reminded of the experience we had with the introduction of Real Time Information (RTI) and the issues employers are still experiencing with the dashboard – and that is all online.There is a blog which gives up-to-date information about Gov.UK Verify. The latest blog is headlined “Nearly There” and can be foundhere.
Apparently the Digital by Default Service Standard Assessment has been passed for a live service and it will be going live next week.
The blog goes on to say “It means we’ve met the standard required of digital by default services - rightly a tough standard to meet. Users can be assured that GOV.UK Verify is safe, secure, easily improved and meets user needs”.
There is also the ability to get the latest news on the subject by signing up for email updates.
