Belgium has developed an interoperability model for its public administrations based on a layered and modular approach. [1] Key elements include a common backend, process flows, and modules/applications that are built on open standards and authentic sources of information. [2] A unified identification system links citizens and businesses across all levels of government using a unique key. [3] Public authorities maintain control over their services while tools and a developer kit are provided to encourage innovation.

1. BELGIUM’s EXPERIENCES IN THE FIELD
OF INTEROPERABILITY
Interoperability solutions for European
Public Administrations (ISA)
Frank LEYMAN
FEDICT
1

2. Citizen Centricity
COMMON
BACK-
OFFICE
COMMON COMMON
PROCESS s M
te an KEY
bu
FLOW
t tri da
te
A s
o n
ati
Ro
le g
le E-
s
De
MODULES APPLICA
TIONS
TOOLS

3. Building Blocks
SECURITY
National Portal Website
Federal Service Bus
FEDMAN
Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry
…
A B C Z

4. Philosophy behind this model
• Layered model
– Open model enabled by open standards
• Authentic sources
• Unified identification system for citizen and companies
– Unique Key: generates link between all levels
• Public authorities keep control over their core
products/services
– “identification of BE citizen”
• But leave the market free to develop the applications
they need
– Government supplies toolbox and developers kit

5. Authentic Source
• Is the source of the information
– With respect of all laws on data protection
• Is accessible with the unique key of an object
– Citizen, enterprise, car,...
• Contains the data of that object
– Generally there are more authentic sources for one object
• Is under the responsability of an administration
(distributed model)
– Collect, update, archive, make available

6. Identity and Access Management
CEO of COMPANY IDENTITY
NAME
MEMBER of BOARD
DATE of BIRTH
LAWYER
PLACE of BIRTH
ACCOUNTANT
GENDER
MEMBER OF ADDRESS
SERVICE CLUB
NATIONALITY
SOCIAL SECURITY FAMILY STATUS
DRIVING LICENSE FATHER

7. IAM as an eGovernment catalizer
• “As Is”
– Strong Identification & Authentication Services
– Targeted User Management functionalities build within the context of
3 target groups (Civil servants, enterprises and citizens)
• Under construction
– Extended sets of functionalities organized as “Generic Services”
• Extended Authentication, Attribute and Attribute collection workflow
• Extended User and Role Management (Delegation, Mandates, etc.)
– Federal Governance Organization and Mechanisms
– Fedict as the Partner for International Exchanges (Belgian IDP Hub)

8. Fedict IAM as a “Hub”
IDP A IDP A EU country
National ID National ID IDP’s IDP
USER Persons Enterprises Social
Security
Authentic Authentic
Attribute
Local Sources Sources
collection
workflows
repository IAM
hub
FEDICT
SP
FEDICT
Applications
USER/ROLE
approver SP SP
Application Application

9. Country
Country1 Country2
3
… CountryX
Gateway to EU
National Portal Website
Federal Service Bus
FEDMAN
Ministry Ministry Ministry Ministry
A B C
… Z
Region A Region B Region C … Region Z
Municipality A Municipality B Municipality C … Municipality Z
© fedict 2009. All rights reserved

10. CONCLUSION
• Only federated model is viable
• Common understanding of security & privacy
• Independent entities implies:
– A lot of talking
– Sound agreements (peer-to-peer)
• Futureproof interoperability implies:
– Layered model
– “Open” technologies
10