Building Trust and Efficiency: Modernizing Resident Identity for State and Local Government

Accessing digital government services should be simple and secure, yet 74 percent of users over the past two years report frustrating experiences¹. These challenges, especially with identity verification, undermine public trust and block access to critical services. Identity theft and outdated systems also strain state and local government resources.

Modernization is slow for many agencies due to legacy infrastructure, limited budgets, workforce shortages, lack of experience or decentralized governance. As cyber threats rise, agencies must meet growing demands for intuitive, secure digital services. A unified resident identity framework is key to secure, seamless access and rebuilding trust.

Resident identity is a digital approach that helps governments confidently verify, protect and manage access across all public services. It combines identity verification, authentication and access management into one streamlined system built for the public sector. From first sign-up to every interaction after, it ensures the right person gets the right access every time for essential services like health care, benefits, licensing and more.

Okta orchestrates authentication flows, including adaptive multifactor authentication (MFA), and applies authorization policies end-to-end across the resident journey. Socure provides identity verification and delivers fraud risk signals at enrollment and during ongoing interactions. Together, they empower the government to rebuild trust, improve efficiency and deliver seamless digital experiences that residents expect.

DELIVER END-TO-END, “NO WRONG DOOR” RESIDENT IDENTITY

Resident identity is the backbone of a modern digital government experience. When done right, it protects public funds from fraud, reduces the headache of juggling multiple identity platforms, and extends access to remote or underserved communities. A “no wrong door” framework allows verified residents to access multiple services through a single, secure login with multifactor authentication². This eliminates the hassle of managing separate accounts for each service.

But getting there isn’t easy. Barriers to secure identity management are real and persistent:

• Siloed Systems: Decentralized platforms create duplicate records, multiple passwords, poor security and frustrating user experiences.
• Sophisticated Threats: Attackers now use AI-driven bots, credential stuffing and advanced MFA attacks that can easily bypass legacy defenses.
• Accessibility Gaps: Not everyone has traditional credentials or digital literacy, which can exclude many residents.
• Privacy Compliance: Navigating state laws and federal standards like the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST)'s³ adds another layer of complexity.

That’s where a coordinated approach is beneficial. Socure and Okta together provide a secure, modular and scalable foundation for resident identity. Socure ensures identity accuracy from day 1 with advanced machine learning and document verification. Okta delivers seamless registration, single sign-on, intelligent MFA, and robust threat detection. Together, they offer a resilient framework that verifies and manages resident access at every stage of their journey.

ADD ZERO TRUST TO INCREASE EFFICIENCY AND RESTORE PUBLIC TRUST

Legacy identity systems are slowing governments down, and people are losing trust. Field offices are buried in manual identification checks, while outdated tools like knowledge-based authentication can’t keep up with today’s AI-powered fraud. It’s not just clunky, it puts everyone at greater risk. A staggering 88 percent of basic web application attacks involved stolen or compromised credentials according to the 2025 Data Breach Investigations Report, making credential abuse the top threat to web apps⁴.

Disconnected identity systems force residents to juggle multiple accounts, raising security risks and creating a fragmented, frustrating experience. To counter these challenges, agencies need a modern identity strategy built on zero-trust architecture. This means verifying users throughout their entire journey, not just at sign-up.

Adopting zero trust is more than a technical fix. It’s a shift to continuously verify identity, context and data access. This approach uses fine-grained controls and ongoing monitoring to keep access secure and risks in check, helping agencies stay ahead of evolving threats.

Upgrading identity infrastructure is no longer optional, but essential for both security and service continuity. Identity and access management consistently ranks in the top 10 priorities of state CIOs⁵. Okta and Socure help enable agencies to implement zero trust with minimal friction, combining advanced verification, continuous monitoring, and seamless user experiences. By modernizing identity systems, governments can reduce fraud, streamline operations, and rebuild public trust in digital services.

STAY AHEAD OF CYBER THREATS AND COMPLIANCE PRESSURES

Cyber threats are becoming more advanced, placing agencies under pressure to protect resident data. Attackers now use tactics like synthetic identity fraud, where they combine a stolen Social Security number with a made-up name, birth date and address to create a new identity that looks real enough to pass many checks. These sophisticated schemes put government programs and resources at risk, making it even more important for agencies to balance strong security with a smooth, accessible user experience.

Okta and Socure help state and local governments stay ahead by supporting zero trust and modern authentication standards, ensuring only verified users can access sensitive services. Their solutions help enable compliance with the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and state data regulations. They also prioritize transparency by providing detailed, real-time data on identity verification and access activity. Agencies gain the ability to demonstrate compliance, track performance and respond quickly to audits or investigations. This level of insight supports ongoing monitoring and continuous improvement. With this future-ready approach, agencies can reduce risk, strengthen public trust and keep critical services secure and accessible.

EMPOWER GOVERNMENT AGENCIES WITH MODERN, COST-EFFECTIVE IDENTITY SOLUTIONS

Agencies need identity solutions that can adapt to evolving threats, streamline operations and scale to meet public expectations.

To improve both employee and resident experiences, state governments can modernize their identity systems with solutions from Okta and Socure. One state was confronted with thousands of siloed applications and outdated infrastructure. It adopted a zero-trust approach and partnered to unify access under a single, secure login. This reduced strain on IT teams, improved security with tools like MFA, and helped create a more consistent user experience. Within five months, the state system supported more than 642,000 residents without a single instance of downtime. Today, the state continues to expand its login platform to bring more services under one identity to improve access, protect data and support long-term modernization.

Modern identity platforms, guided by frameworks like federal identity, credential and access management (FICAM), allow governments to enhance security and resident experience without the need for costly system overhauls⁶. FICAM provides a proven blueprint for integrating new solutions with existing infrastructure, automating identity management and ensuring compliance with federal standards. This approach not only reduces operational costs and complexity but also supports secure, trusted access for residents. Modernization can be both practical and effective in driving adoption.

Okta and Socure enable secure, seamless service delivery by automating identity verification, reducing manual reviews and providing adaptive authentication — all while ensuring compliance with security frameworks like NIST and state regulations. This future-ready approach lays the groundwork for broader digital transformation, allowing agencies to deliver faster, safer and more inclusive services to their communities.

GIVE EVERY RESIDENT STREAMLINED, INCLUSIVE ACCESS

Residents today expect government services to be easy to use, secure and intuitive, like any modern, mobile-friendly app. Unfortunately, they shared five of their biggest challenges⁷.

1. Residents often need 10 or more separate logins to access different services.
2. Data is fragmented and not shared, which causes users to enter duplicate information.
3. Accessibility and usability are inconsistent or unavailable to all users.
4. Public data breaches and widespread unemployment fraud have eroded trust in the government to protect personal data.
5. Access between different services is disjointed and lacks a smooth integration.

These challenges can be resolved with modern resident identity solutions. Agencies can connect more effectively with residents, delivering streamlined and inclusive services.

Socure expands digital inclusion by validating a wider range of identities, so younger people and those without traditional credit histories aren’t left out. With Okta and Socure, residents can sign in once and access multiple services, cutting out repetitive logins and paperwork. Security adjusts to risk, so extra verification is only required when necessary, keeping the experience seamless for most users. Together, these solutions make digital government more accessible, trusted and user-friendly for everyone.

BUILD A SAFER, MORE INCLUSIVE DIGITAL GOVERNMENT WITH MODERN RESIDENT IDENTITY

Agencies face a range of resident identity challenges. Identity theft, outdated systems and navigating between logins and applications make it harder for residents to get the essential services they need. Addressing these issues requires a modern, end-to-end approach to securely manage access to public services such as benefits, driver’s licenses and emergency assistance. Resident identity is no longer optional — it’s critical.

Okta and Socure are better together for resident identity. Their combined capabilities support agencies in building a secure, end-to-end identity framework, from initial verification to access management and fraud prevention. This helps close system gaps, reduce risk and ensure residents can access the services they rely on. The result is a more resilient, efficient government and a better experience for the public.