A Retrospective Look: NSTIC pilots catalyzing the Identity Ecosystem

Oh NSTIC pilots, the places you'll go… ! It's no secret that the NSTIC Pilots Program is important to the successful implementation of the NSTIC. Pilots are arguably the most visible initiatives we’ve launched in the NSTIC National Program Office (along with the Identity Ecosystem Steering Group and Connect.gov). We have made the pilots a priority because they are a key component in advancing the NSTIC vision, complementing the work of the IDESG and Connect.gov; they are laying the groundwork for a vibrant new marketplace of identity solutions by developing and deploying technology, models, and frameworks that wouldn’t otherwise exist. As the pilots progress, their work sheds light on common challenges in catalyzing and operating in the identity marketplace. At the NSTIC National Program Office (NPO), we believe that sharing these challenges is important to help inform other stakeholders and advances in the Identity Ecosystem. Thus, the NSTIC NPO just released a publication that explores these ‘common themes’. For example, from a technical perspective, pilots expanded upon the critical role of componentization of identity functions in establishing sustainable solutions. The pilots have also uncovered key themes around business drivers and the marketplace. As a non-technical example, the pilots determined – among many other things – that it was necessary to present their solutions in a way that spoke to revenue generation and customer retention for RPs. In addition to exploring these themes, the publication provides summaries and outcomes of the NSTIC pilots. And while our pilots have been busy uncovering important themes and lessons learned for the Identity Ecosystem, they’ve also been making substantial progress in their own identity solutions in the past year. The pilots’ progress is notable as they have collectively enabled veterans, children, college students, and others to engage online in more trusted ways.

• ID.me enables close to 1 million service members, veterans, teachers, first responders, and students to access discounts and benefits online from more than 200 commercial organizations (e.g., Sears, Sea World, Under Armour), government entities, and non-profit organizations without having to share sensitive documents or personally identifiable information each time they want to prove eligibility.

• Privacy Vaults Online, Inc. (PRIVO) offers parents a single portal to learn about the privacy practices of relying parties (RPs) that use PRIVO’s solutions, then provide and revoke consent for sharing their children’s personal information with these applications and websites. More than 247,000 accounts are under management by PRIVO, thus providing a unique location for parents to assert their identities and implement their online parental rights. The solution gives parents more granular view and control over which specific attributes get shared with which RPs on a feature by feature basis.

• Internet2 is developing tools and initiatives to advance privacy-enhancing technology for the Identity Ecosystem. Their work has catalyzed adoption in the research and education community; currently, over 140 universities have begun to deploy a variety of multi-factor authentication (MFA) technologies. By addressing MFA management at the enterprise level, this work has provided a vital missing piece for scaling MFA.

• Criterion has successfully deployed a user-centric online attribute exchange network (AXN) that enables individuals to enhance their existing credentials (e.g., email, social network providers) for use in secure transactions. Criterion piloted the AXN solution at Broadridge, enabling customers to securely access mobile delivery of financial services content, bill presentment, and bill pay. Criterion then launched with a new Broadridge/Pitney Bowes joint venture, offering secure digital delivery to 140 million customers.

We are proud of our pilots’ achievements, and are excited to share more details of their work with all of you. While the report does explore important themes for all organizations operating in the identity marketplace, it also highlights the need for the NPO to maintain a strong pilots program. In the long-term, the focus of the Pilots Program will shift its focus from addressing broad barriers to filling critical gaps in the Identity Ecosystem, continually evolving to help address market impediments as they emerge. The NPO’s recently released solicitation specifically focused on advancing privacy-enhancing technologies (PETs) marks a first step in this evolution. As we wrap up finalist selections for this year’s first round of NSTIC pilot funding and await applications for the second, we look forward to the great potential for progress in 2015 and beyond. Read NSTIC Pilots: Catalyzing the Identity Ecosystem here or here.

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