Reimagining Trust: The Future of Resident Identity in Public Services

State and local agencies today face growing identity threats while meeting rising expectations for fast, digital-first public services. Residents increasingly expect frictionless interactions, from benefits and licensing to records and assistance. Resident identity refers to the secure digital identity system that enables residents to access public services more safely and efficiently.

THE VALUE OF RESIDENT IDENTITY

Resident identity is the digital backbone of modern government. When implemented well, it gives each verified user seamless access across programs through a single, secure login backed by robust multifactor authentication. This approach increases security, supports inclusion, helps to build public trust, and enables agencies to streamline service delivery. However, state and local agencies face four major barriers that prevent this vision from becoming a reality:

• Fragmented systems: Siloed identity solutions and a lack of interoperability between agencies lead to duplicate records, inflate costs and frustrate users with inconsistent experiences.
• Security risks: Weak identity checks and legacy systems expose personally identifiable information (PII) and core infrastructure to identity fraud and cyber threats.
• Limited access: Limited ID ownership, digital literacy, language barriers or Internet access prevent many from using essential online services.
• Complex compliance requirements: Evolving mandates and state privacy laws require agencies to ensure secure, compliant identity management or risk audit findings, reputational damage, and penalties.

These barriers are continuing to grow in scale and complexity. Adopting a unified, secure and inclusive identity approach to modernize service delivery has never been more critical.

BETTER TOGETHER: MODERNIZING ACCESS AND TRUST WITH OKTA AND SOCURE

Okta and Socure verify resident identities at account creation and continuously monitor for fraud across the entire life cycle.

By combining Okta’s robust Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) with Socure’s advanced machine learning-driven identity proofing and fraud monitoring, agencies experience:

1. Seamless “no wrong door” access
   
   Okta’s CIAM platform grants every resident a single identity and login across government services. With single sign-on and consistent authentication, residents no longer need to manage multiple accounts or passwords when engaging with different agencies or programs. This improves efficiency and the overall user experience.
2. Real-time fraud insights
   
   Socure applies advanced AI/machine learning techniques to verify applicant identities in real time. This includes document verification, behavioral analytics and risk scoring at onboarding and throughout the resident’s life cycle. Real-time fraud detection helps prevent account takeover, third-party fraud and synthetic identity abuse from the start.
3. Zero-trust security and inclusive access
   
   Jointly, Okta and Socure deliver identity-first, zero-trust security. This means that every account, device and transaction is continuously verified for legitimacy. Inclusive identity proofing supports a range of verification options from digital and physical IDs and adaptive risk checks to multilingual access. This helps to ensure secure access for diverse populations so the right individuals gain the right access securely and compliantly every time.

Okta and Socure deliver a more seamless, secure and inclusive identity solution that helps empower agencies to protect and serve their residents throughout every stage of the digital journey.

A UNIFIED RESIDENT IDENTITY DELIVERS SEAMLESS ACCESS

Okta and Socure combine advanced identity verification with secure access management. This allows state and local governments to provide seamless digital services and enhance security, trust and inclusion.

With Okta and Socure’s integrated solution, agencies gain critical advantages:

• Reduced friction and lower IT burden with a single, secure resident identity, simplifying authentication and reducing help desk demand.
• Enhanced fraud prevention by using real-time risk signals, behavioral analytics and secure account authentication at every step.
• Inclusive digital access with flexible, equitable identity verification, closing the gaps for people without traditional credentials or who are in underserved or hard-to-reach populations.
• Stronger compliance and auditability via auditable logs, automated policy controls and continuous alignment with evolving state standards.

These advantages help agencies serve residents more efficiently while reducing risk and complexity.

BUILD TRUSTED, MODERN GOVERNMENT SERVICES WITH RESIDENT IDENTITY

Together with Okta and Socure, agencies can build a unified resident identity foundation that simplifies access to services and helps rebuild public trust. By addressing fragmentation, security, accessibility and compliance challenges, Okta and Socure enable agencies to deliver modern, user-friendly government services.