The supply of data on a worldwide basis is enormous. With more than 3.7 billion people using the internet, more than 2.5 quintillion (!) bytes of data are produced daily. With more people, and more data exchange, the need for secure identification of those you communicate with also grows.
Secure electronic identification is an important tool for protecting data and preventing fraud. Electronic identification (e-ID) and signing make it possible to reach larger user groups, among other things, contributing to increased trust between the parties.
Electronic identity and signing are closely linked through so-called electronic certificates. Electronic certificates are a link between the signatory's physical identity and digital keys used to sign a document or message.
An electronic signature can in many ways be seen as a seal of a document, as the content cannot be changed after it has been signed. This will help to safeguard document integrity and create a secure link between the document and the person(s) signing.
A foundation for service development
With a population of around 5.2 million people, of which 3.5 million are in the age group 16–66 (SSB, 2018), Norway is a small country in a world context. On the other hand, Norway is big on electronic identification. BankID alone has almost 3.9 million users (read: identity card), which again means that we are one of the countries in the world with the highest prevalence of electronic ID. This helps to create good conditions for digital service development in this country.
This has also materialized in several good examples. One of them can be found in the public sector, specifically the "ID-porten". A common login solution for public services on the internet has enabled development and access to over 1,000 services from public enterprises. This shows that good digital identity management can stimulate increased service development.
Despite some regulatory challenges, developments in the audit industry are moving in the same direction. The use of electronic ID is increasing, and here too contributes to efficiency gains. Examples of areas of use:
In addition to this, e-ID will in future contribute to creating new digital customer journeys for both auditors and audit clients. It will help to highlight and improve the quality of audit services, and in this way constitute a differentiator for those who are able to see the opportunities that lie here.
With the increased spread of electronic identification, however, auditors should consider this an important link in the chain of trust that is created between themselves and the client. It is therefore essential to choose solutions for electronic identification and signing, which ensure reliable authentication of the parties.