The way we use the internet and interact with different organizations, digitally, changes very rapidly.  The slightest new technology or partnership could leave a lasting impact that many don’t even realize is happening.  One item that most people still remain afraid of is the threat of online identity theft.  If you are an organization that asks people to login, provide you with personal information and/or credit card and banking information, then this is a concern that should also be at the top of your list.  It would truly be a crisis if someone hacked your system and stole the data of your customers.

Now, the U.S. Government is getting involved with the exchange of user login information.  There is an initiative to have a standard, high security trust network that organizations can use to verify users and their access information to sites.

“Industry leaders Google, PayPal, Equifax, VeriSign, Verizon, CA, and Booz Allen Hamiltom today announced at the RSA Conference 2010 the formation of the Open Identity Exchange (OIX) www.openidentityexchange.org, a non-profit organization dedicated to building trust in the exchange of online identity credentials across public and private sectors. With initial grants from the OpenID Foundation (OIDF) and Information Card Foundation (ICF), OIX has been approved as a trust framework provider by the United States Government to certify online identity management providers to U.S. federal standards for identity assurance.”

As I was reading about this new technology this morning, I couldn’t help but to think of the 1995 movie, “The Net,” with Sandra Bullock.  I think this is an extreme that could happen, but I couldn’t help myself.  In the movie, terrorists use a single sign-on software to hack into government and private sector computer systems all over the country.  The Open Identity Exchange reminded me of this.

As a web developer and marketing communication professional, you should be aware of new technologies like these that are on the rise.  This technology could be valuable to your organization and customers.