The Kantara Initiative, the acknowledged expert in building identity assurance, is thrilled to announce that it has been granted formal accreditation by the UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) under ISO/IEC 17065:2012. Kantara is the first Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) certifying against the UK Digital Identity and Attributes Trust Framework.
“We are determined to build public trust in the technologies that are making our daily lives easier. Thanks to Kantara’s accreditation, people can be reassured that digital IDs offered by private companies to help them prove their identity are safe, secure, and sustainable – in turn helping an industry which is already worth £2 billion.”
– The Rt Hon Ian Murray MP, Minister for Digital Government and Data
The accreditation is internationally recognised and is a significant achievement for Kantara and for the development of the UK’s digital verification services ecosystem.
“This has been a long-time goal for the organisation and having reached this important milestone, we look forward to continuing to build Kantara’s global leadership in the area of digital identity.”
– Andrew Johnston, Chair of the Kantara Board of Directors
How Kantara Got Here
Kantara and the Office for Digital Identities & Attributes (OfDIA), part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), have worked together since the beginning of the pilot programme for the DIATF. The DIATF establishes a robust set of rules for certifying digital verification services (DVS) and provides an independent assessment of whether bodies providing conformity assessment can implement those rules in line with international standards. To read more about the advancements of OfDIA please read its blog.
To obtain accreditation, Kantara went through a rigorous assessment process led by independent UKAS assessors with deep technical expertise. UKAS is the national accreditation body for the UK. It is appointed by the government to independently assess organisations that provide certification, testing, inspection, and calibration services.
What this Means for Industry
The government is now implementing the DVS measures outlined in the Data (Use and Access) Act 2025, which include the statutory register. Consequently, now that Kantara has been accredited, Kantara’s certified clients have been invited to join the register.
To appear on the register, identity services must be certified by an accredited CAB. Organisations interested in having their services listed on the statutory register are encouraged to contact Kantara, the only accredited CAB.
