Government Technology

Digital Signatures "Can" be Wave of the Future


September 30, 1999 By

director of Information Technology for Tucson and, as such, I am authorized to transact business and legally bind the city in a specific fashion." Third, certificates may be passed electronically between computers to confirm they are what they appear to be.

This electronic exchange and verification, known as server certification, is especially important as governments look toward accepting electronic payments. Before I send my credit-card number over the Internet to pay a fee or fine, I want to know that I am dealing with the appropriate government computer, and not one masquerading as such. These computer impostors are known as "spoofers."

Using digital signatures is not a complicated process and the technology is relatively easy to implement. The first thing is to establish a "closed PKI" limited to the government enterprise. A basic PKI framework has been defined and can be tailored to meet the needs of the enterprise . In states where digital signatures are not yet a legal alternative to pen-and-ink signatures, early implementation can focus on replacing signatures required as a matter of policy rather than law.

The use of server certification for our Internet sites is another reasonable step for local government to take now. The move toward electronic service delivery and our ability to accept electronic payment depends on our ability to establish trust with those who use our systems. Accepting electronic payment of fees, fines and even utility bills has the potential for greatly reducing processing costs for city government. More importantly, it has the potential to greatly improve the service received by our businesses and citizens. Server certification can be accomplished by individual jurisdictions installing the necessary software or, more efficiently, by the use of a cooperative effort such as that available to local and county government from Public Technology Inc. (PTI).

Government IT professionals have a responsibility to not only manage emerging technology but, more importantly, to explain what it means to our politicians, managers and even citizens. If we let ourselves become too intimidated by the can, we may never get to the soup.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

This article was written by Todd Sander, CIO of Tucson, Ariz., for Public Technology Inc. and is reprinted with permission. PTI, the nonprofit technology R&D organization for local governments, is sponsored by the National League of Cities, the National Association of Counties and the International City/County Management Association. PTI's mission is to advance the development and use of technology in local governments. For more information, contact PTI at 800/PTI-8976.


You may use or reference this story with attribution and a link to
http://www.govtech.com/magazines/gt/Digital-Signatures-quotCanquot-be-Wave-of.html


| More

Comments

Add Your Comment

You are solely responsible for the content of your comments. We reserve the right to remove comments that are considered profane, vulgar, obscene, factually inaccurate, off-topic, or considered a personal attack.

GovTech Papers and Case Studies View Library


Government Best Practices


Collaboration for the Public Sector


Collaborative Justice: Transforming Criminal Justice Services Through Unified Collaboration
This issue brief examines video collaboration in every stage of the human justice process, demonstrating how this technology can not only make services more efficient, affordable, and accessible.

Cloud-Based Services Accelerate Public Sector Adoption of Video Collaboration
Today, thanks to new cloud technologies and high-quality networks, mobile video services - which provide not only cost savings but which help governmental interactions become more efficient - are more feasible than ever before.

Modernization as a Service: Acquiring IT through Innovative Procurement

Five Ways Collaboration is Driving Government Performance

Mobile Video Collaboration: The New Business Reality
 

Government Technology
Public CIO
Emergency Management
Digital Communities