Digital Identity and Public Administration. New online access with the eIDAS Login.
New obligation for central and peripheral public administrations for an increasingly digitally integrated Europe. After the entry into force of the SPID, the Public System for Digital Identity Management, and then of the Electronic Identity Card (EIDC), the digital identity instruments that allow European citizens to access all public administration web services online quickly and securely, Europe takes a further step forward in digital authentication with the eIDAS login. What is it about and, above all, what does it entail for Public Administrations? Let's take a look together.
The European digital authentication network: eIDAS nodes
As of 1st October last year, the obligation was already in force for central and peripheral public administrations to guarantee users’Access to online services only via SPID, CIE and Service Card, implementing the Regulation (EU) eIDAS No 910/2014 relating to electronic identification and electronic transaction services for Member States.
On the one hand, access to public administration has become more streamlined and faster for the end-user, while on the other hand, the new provisions have required public administrations to undertake a series of technical and bureaucratic adaptation measures to implement the new rules.
But it's not over.
To strengthen the effectiveness of cross-border digital transactions and ensure the security of data transmission in the European Union, the eIDAS Regulation requires European public administrations to make their services accessible also through digital identities issued by other Member States. In practice, a European user must be able to use the online service of a public authority (or a private entity) from another EU member state, by using the digital identity issued by their country of origin.
How?
Through the so-called Nodi eIDAS nazionali, to which the public administrations of the respective countries must connect in order to facilitate the exchange of information and authentication between the various member states.
Operationally, the eIDAS node translates into a button – Log in with eIDAS – that Public Administrations must include on their web portal to allow European citizens to access via their digital identity.
Italy and the FICEP project
The’Italy it was the fourth European country to equip itself with a national eIDAS node, through the project FICEP, the first “Italian cross-border server” of the Agency for Digital Italy.
An increasing number of central and local public administrations, which already make their online services available via SPID or CIE, have connected to the Italian eIDAS node. This allows European citizens to access them using their national digital identity and, conversely, enables Italian citizens to use the online services of other EU countries that have implemented their national eIDAS node.
And in the coming months, the trend can only grow considering that, pursuant to the eIDAS regulation, Public administrations are required to integrate the national node to ensure EU citizens' access to their online services. In short, for public administrations looking ahead new bureaucratic and technical adaptations.
What changes for Public Administrations: obligations for Local Authorities
From a financial perspective, the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (PNRRprovides a funding package for digitisation and, in particular, digital identity. – for more in-depth information on the digital transition resources available to Local Authorities, click Who, while for guidance on the required criteria and procedures for local authorities to obtain PNRR funding to complete digital transition, go Who -.
In particular, for Local Authorities, measure 1.4.4 Digital Identity of the PNRR finances integration with the Spid platforms (with the new OpenID Connect protocol), CIE and, indeed, eIDAS, with a total lump-sum amount of €14,000.
From a technical and administrative point of view, however, the procedures to be carried out to join the eIDAS node and fulfil community obligations can prove complex.
To support the Municipalities in this process, Sikuel has developed a Mentoring service with which it guarantees:
• Online support and assistance for complex federation activities on the CIE portal*.;
• Online support and assistance for complex federation activities on the eIDAS portal*;
• technological upgrade from the SAML2 protocol to OpenID Connect (for SPID: a technological option that guarantees the achievement of the objectives of Measure 1.4.4).
(The technology is included in the Maggioli portals that the Authority has in use).
A theoretical and practical support pathway designed to respond promptly, comprehensively, and efficiently to the needs of local authorities in this new digital transition phase.
For more information, you can contact us on 348 6185167 or send an email to commerciale@sikuel.it.
