Federal Council approves two further ICT standard services
Bern, 13.12.2013 - During its meeting today, the Federal Council defined further services in the Confederation's information and communication technologies (ICT) as standard services. Both of the new standard services, i.e. "directory services" and "identity and access management" will thus be managed and operated centrally.
With the resolution of 9 December 2011 on the Federal ICT Strategy 2012-2015, the Federal Council specified that, within the Federal Administration, basic ICT services such as basic infrastructure and security services would be managed as standard services by the Federal IT Steering Unit (FITSU) from the start of 2012. Standard services are IT services that the administrative units of the Federal Administration require with the same or similar functionality and quality. Data and voice communication as well as office automation, including Unified Communications and Collaboration (UCC), are already managed as standard services at present. Today, the Federal Council defined two new standard services, i.e. "directory services" and "identity and access management".
"Directory services" standard service
In the new "directory services" standard service, it is stated that the existing central directory for Federal Administration people and organisations is to remain operated by the Federal Office of Information Technology, Systems and Telecommunication (FOITT). However, the service for verifying addresses is to be obtained directly from Swiss Post in the future.
"Identity and access management" standard service
The "identity and access management" (IAM) standard service provides the necessary functionalities to ensure that only authorised persons and machines can access Federal Administration data and applications. This also includes the internal federal public-key infrastructure (PKI), for example. The FOITT is to continue to operate the PKI and IAM services intended to safeguard e-government services for the general public. The IT Service Centre (ISC-FDJP) of the Federal Department of Justice and Police (FDJP) will be responsible for operating the IAM services for safeguarding applications with increased security requirements, particularly police applications.
Address for enquiries
Peter Fischer, Delegate for the Federal IT Steering Unit
tel. 031 325 98 98, peter.fischer@isb.admin.ch
Publisher
The Federal Council
https://www.admin.ch/gov/en/start.html
Federal Department of Finance
https://www.efd.admin.ch/efd/en/home.html
