Identity Access Management (IAM) Modernization

Progress update - October 2024

Note: This is a non-workforce IAM project. 

The IAM Modernization team has made steady progress this month, with a continued focus on developing Identity Verification (IDV) workflows and confirming data requirements to support the selection of an Identity Verification solution. Recent efforts included re-engagement with the subcommittee to validate the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and define the relationship between IAM and the Resident Portal initiative. Product exploration sessions with key vendors, Lexis/Nexis and Socure, have informed our approach and driven further alignment across agency partners, including the Department of Health (DOH), Employment Security Department (ESD), and Department of Licensing (DOL). The IAM Program Manager has been hired and is currently being onboarded into the program.

Contracting activities have experienced delays due to ongoing discussions regarding the scope of terms to be negotiated by Carahsoft versus Okta. The procurement team is actively working to clarify these responsibilities to prevent any further impact on project timelines.

Read the full October 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• Outdated policies driving increased waiver requests that increase barriers to delivery of services while proliferating siloed identity stores.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.