Scott Logic wins digital identity platform contract
The Scottish Government has handed software consultancy Scott Logic a contract to help boost the nation’s digital identity programme. The platform for users in Scotland aims to improve access to government services.
“This is a user-driven platform that will improve access to public services in Scotland by providing citizens with a safe and secure way to prove their identity. It will also reduce time and cost for the public sector when delivering digital services,” said Stuart Grey, Head of Consultancy in Scott Logic’s Edinburgh office.
Based in Newcastle, with hubs in London, Bristol, Edinburgh, Leeds and Copenhagen, Scott Logic employs more than 300 people. As a software consultancy, it provides a range of technology services, including architecture and technical strategy, software development, and data engineering, helping clients to address an array of digital challenges.
The digital identity programme is part of the Scottish Government's Digital Strategy actions to build a suite of common platforms to be adopted across the public sector, transforming government. The commitment is to introduce a digital identity service for users: to develop and establish a trusted and secure service for users to prove who they are, and that they are eligible for a service. Users will be able to store their information and choose to share it when applying to public services. This will improve a user's access to services by providing a safe, secure and accessible way to prove their identity, while reducing time and cost for the public sector.
“It’s an essential component of Scottish Government’s platform strategy,” Grey added. “It gives users complete control over how their personal information is used, stored and shared to prove eligibility for a public service or benefit online. We have a strong heritage working with the public sector and to be entrusted with such an important strategic project is testament to our credentials and expertise in this field.”
The new platform centres has a four-fold security plan; secure sign-in for end users, an attribute store, integration with credential providers and integration with service customers. Scott Logic began work on the initial two-year project in April 2021, with the engagement planned to run for two years. There is an option for two one-year extensions, should they be required.
Business Minister Ivan McKee noted, “People expect public services that are accessible and simple to use. They want them to be inclusive and designed around their needs, rather than the structures of the organisations that provide them… Our vision is to introduce a digital identity service for users, that provides a safe and easy way for people to prove that they are eligible for a public service or benefit online.”
The contract represents the second major recent project Scott Logic has been handed by ScotGov, after a two-year programme that it started working on in 2020. Scott Logic partnered with ScotGov during the prototype and alpha phases for the new payment platform, which will ultimately allow Scottish public sector departments to manage payments consistently.
