Identity Access Management (IAM) Modernization

Progress update: April 8 - May 5

The Resident IAM Modernization project is transitioning into the broader DEX Program, which encompasses multiple initiatives, including the Resident Portal pilot and Customer Identity Access Management (CIAM).

The program continues to gain momentum with major milestones achieved in onboarding, platform development, identity verification, and security readiness. The team successfully launched the first service integration with the County Road Administration Board’s (CRAB) Pinnacle application—90 days ahead of schedule—marking a significant step forward in delivering modern, secure digital identity services to Washington residents. Critical decisions were made on user account transition, while work progressed on onboarding, security architecture, and partner engagement. The project remains on track toward the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) launch, with positive feedback from early adopters and growing agency engagement.

Read the complete project status update.

Overview

Since 2019, a renewed focus has been placed on cloud computing, data management, resident experience, privacy and cybersecurity.  In addition, there is increased recognition that consumers of Washington state services and our vendors expect to be able to interact with the state consistent with the basic levels of Identity Management provided by the private sector. 

There is a recognized need across the enterprise to modernize our Identity Management (IAM) capabilities to meet these expectations and to better manage access to systems and services in a controlled manner. 

Specific drivers of our need to modernize IAM include:

• Existing enterprise solutions are limited to email-based authentication.  The current model of federated identity verification has no single and comprehensive view of user identity.  This has resulted in a disjointed user experience as users manage multiple portions of their identity across disparate systems (trust model).
• Consolidation of access to state services using an updated resident portal that will be a front door for access to all state services and will be dependent on IAM functionality.
• Ever increasing need to mitigate access-related risks and potential fraud.
• Outdated policies driving increased waiver requests that increase barriers to delivery of services while proliferating siloed identity stores.
• Additional IAM functionality needed to realize benefits associated with migration toward cloud computing.
• Supporting the state’s Digital Equity goals by eliminating outdated technology and policies which increase barriers to services.
• Alignment to top priorities of national state CIOs. IAM is the National Association of State Chief Information Officers (NASCIO) sixth ranked priority of their 2022 top 10 priorities.
• Mitigate identity sprawl by modernizing to meet federation needs and integration with other identity stores while maintaining a single source of truth for identity. 

Vision

IAM Strategic Vision: Washington residents can access state digital services efficiently with confidence that their information is protected and privacy is respected. The state reduces risk by verifying all users and authenticating all transactions while increasing digital equity and access to state services.  

Project goals in support of Strategic Vision:  Engage agency partners and complete a successful technology Proof of Concept resulting in contracts with technology and service providers necessary to modernize IAM technology and processes for the state of Washington.