Consumers use online services more than ever, whether it’s to shop, pay bills, social network, or simple information consumption. And while the Internet is affording consumers and service providers with convenience and access to their information, it presents serious security risks for both the end-user and provider. Online fraud and identity theft are at all-time highs, and the most common threat vector is passwords.

In an effort to defend against security attacks, some businesses today require users to create passwords that are more complex than ever—longer, with symbols or a number, at least one capital letter—and are impossible to remember, creating a frustrating experience for the consumer.

That’s why we’re thrilled to announce that the Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) has implemented our SecureKey Concierge Service to provide citizens with simple and secure access to its online services. (Check out GNWT’s press release here).

As the first jurisdiction outside of the Government of Canada to adopt the Concierge service, the GNWT is allowing citizens to access its online services using credentials they already have and use for online accounts with Trusted Sign-In Partners, BMO Financial Group, Choice Rewards MasterCard, Tangerine (formerly ING Direct), Scotiabank and TD Canada Trust.

Providing easier online access to services is a central component of the GNWT’s Service Innovation Strategy, an initiative being coordinated by the Office of the CIO to improve service delivery to NWT residents, businesses and visitors. By enabling citizens to use authentication credentials they already have and trust, the GNWT is making it easier to securely access a growing number of government services online.

SecureKey Concierge operates a BYOC (bring your own credential) service that grants users access via their familiar online banking sign-in process. No passwords or personal information (name, date of birth, etc.) are exchanged and the Trusted Sign-In Partners, who actively manage and monitor security for their customers, reaches far beyond conventional online credential providers. In full operation since April 2012, SecureKey Concierge has more than one and half million credentials (users) using the service.

With SecureKey Concierge, the GNWT offers citizens the best of both worlds—simple access to its online services, and the security and privacy they expect.