iGA, Beyon Connect join forces to launch eKey 2.0 system
MANAMA, 12 days ago
Bahrain's Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) has announced that it has joined forces with Beyon Connect, a part of the Beyon Group, have announced the launch of eKey 2.0, the newly upgraded eKey system.
It enables citizens and residents to seamlessly access a wide range of services through biometric authentication, eliminating the need for passwords. This ensures a streamlined, secure, and efficient experience in completing transactions, said a statement from iGA.
The two-part event was inaugurated by General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communications Technology during an exclusive event held at the Gulf Hotel Conference Hall in the presence of Beyon Chairman Shaikh Abdulla bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, as well as several key officials and industry representatives from a distinguished group of companies that are amongst the first to adopt the new eKey 2.0 system.
These included Dr. Khalid Ahmed Al Mutawah, Deputy Chief Executive of Operation & Governance at iGA, Christopher Hild CEO of Beyon Connect, and Kaspar Bomholtz Chief Technology Officer at Beyon Connect.
Announcing the launch, CEO Mohammed Ali Al Qaed said eKey 2.0 aligns fully with the directives of the Government of Bahrain, led by His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, which underscore the importance of leveraging cutting-edge technology to enhance and modernise government services.
The launch of this enhanced eKey represents a major milestone in Bahrain’s digital transformation journey, he stated.
He pointed out that the introduction of the enhanced eKey system was a pivotal step in Bahrain’s digital transformation, supporting the kingdom’s Economic Vision 2030.
The system signifies a transformational shift in identity authentication and service accessibility across both government and private sectors. Additionally, it enhances Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures, he noted.
Al Qaed underscored the importance of this advanced authentication system in enhancing user experiences on public and private sector platforms through features such as user-controlled data sharing, integration with electronic signature capabilities, and a secure authorisation service that facilitates transaction delegation with the highest levels of security, data sovereignty, and privacy.
On the partnership with Beyon Connect, Al Qaed said it represents the value of strategic cooperation between the public and private sectors in delivering service efficiency.
This initiative benefits both citizens and residents and enhances the Kingdom's pioneering position in the information and communications technology sector regionally and globally.
He also pointed out that the enhanced eKey is a government backed initiative ready for broader use by various government entities as well as the private sector.
It helps support cost reduction for organizations by enabling high-security identity authentication, data protection, and enhanced user experience without significant investment in additional technologies and infrastructure.
Shaikh Mohamed expressed pride in the strategic partnership with iGA, highlighting a shared vision for delivering secure, innovative digital identity solutions based on transparency, privacy, and trust.
The upgraded eKey 2.0 will provide an advanced level of security in identity authentication, benefiting both individuals and businesses. The system will also meet the identity verification process and KYC requirements.
"The new eKey 2.0 addresses the evolving demand from customer facing industries for robust identity security, and we are proud that Beyon’s companies, Batelco and Beyon Money are among the lineup of early adopters," stated the top official.
"By enabling advanced biometric technology, the service will provide substantial advantages for citizens and businesses and strongly support the Kingdom’s vision for a secure, digital-first nation," he noted.
Hild highlighted the significance of eKey 2.0 as Bahrain’s national identity verification system, designed for both government and private sector service providers.
The system’s application in banking, finance, telecommunications, and healthcare demonstrated its role as a secure, efficient and user-friendly identity authentication solution.
"It was noted that eKey 2.0 is firmly aligned with international standards and also provides businesses with greater control over authentication sessions while ensuring full transparency and compliance with Bahrain’s data protection regulations," he noted.
Dr Al Mutawah said that eKey 2.0 represents a transformative leap in the authority’s commitment to delivering secure and frictionless digital services.
The solution enhances both security and accessibility, offering biometric authentication that strengthens identity verification and mitigates the risk of unauthorized access. Moreover, the upgraded system will enable iGA to introduce new services requiring advanced security measures and authentication protocols, he added.-TradeArabia News Service
