E-Authentication:What is it and what does it mean for you?

Electronic authentication,or e-authentication, is the process of establishing confidence in user identities electronically presented to an information system. Systems can use the authenticated identity to determine if an individual is authorized to perform an electronic transaction. It requires that users of CDC data systems have their identity 'authenticated', or verified, at the local level by authorized persons checking government issued IDs, such as driver licenses, U.S. passport or U.S. military ID cards.

Why is e-authentication required?

eAuthenticationis intended to provide an additional layer of data security that data systems do not currently provide and is similar to the identity proofing process when you apply for a personal loan or a credit card. For the Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention, this policy is being implemented initially for HIV prevention program data submitted to CDC and is relevant to users of PEMS and EvaluationWeb.The new federal policy requiring e-authentication of personal identity does not reflect on the capacity of any specific data system to protect data.Such security is assured by the CDC's Certification and Accreditation security process, through which any CDC data system must pass in order to be utilized by external (to CDC) users.