SecureAccess Washington (SAW) Replacement

Progress update: December 2025

Phase: MVP Migrations

In November the project made progress preparing Cohort 1 agencies for their move to WA.gov. Most kickoff meetings are now scheduled or complete, and teams worked closely with the Office of Cybersecurity to clarify the SAW Transition Security Assessment and publish supporting automation for testing. The project advanced key workstreams, including multi account recommendations, transition communications planning, resistance management updates and completion of the ServiceNow intake form development. Technical work moved forward with test connections for Department of Fish and Wildlife systems and early configuration for Department of Enterprise Services identity tools. Current focus includes finishing kick off meetings, validating application inventories, completing intake form testing and preparing future security assessments.  

Read the complete project status update.

Overview

Washington’s SecureAccess Washington (SAW) portal served as a statewide login for over two decades. While it was groundbreaking in 2003, the technology is no longer meeting user needs.

We’re replacing SecureAccess Washington (SAW) with simpler, faster, and more secure digital tools that work better for everyone—residents, visitors, businesses, and state agencies. This work directly supports the Governor’s Executive Order 25-06 to improve digital services statewide. It builds on the foundation laid by the Identity and Access Management Modernization and Washington State Resident Portal projects, which have now closed.

We’re building a new single sign on portal (WA.gov) to replace SAW that:

• Makes it easier to find and use state services.
• Offers a single login through a new WA.gov account.
• Protects user privacy and strengthens security.
• Helps agencies deliver better, more consistent service.

The DEX Program is actively delivering the SAW Replacement Project. WA.gov will replace SAW as the state’s online portal and will include a new Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM) system.

The DEX Program will replace SAW with WA.gov accounts - a secure single sign-on system that allows people to manage their state profile with improved user privacy, security, and control.

In 2025–2026, we’re focused on:

• Launching the Portal Open Beta in fall.
• Continuing to onboard early agencies to the new WA.gov account login.
• Introducing shared features like service search, account management, and personalized recommendations.
• Collaborating with agencies to plan for SAW decommissioning by 2027.