Entrust Technologies Inc, the Texas-based security software supplier, has won a performance based contract with the Ontario government valued at C$2m ($1.3m) in the first year. It will supply security software, integration services and hardware support but will have to prove the worth of its technology during a one year pilot scheme starting early 1999 in which the government will issue 1,100 social workers with certificates. The employees will be able to use the internet to securely access information held on disparate government databases and to send secure emails. Based on the company’s performance, the Ontario government has the option to award a further five year contract to Entrust to develop several projects issuing the entire population with digital certificates over a public key infrastructure. The current pilot scheme does not involve the issuing of smart cards and all certificates will be held locally on user’s PCs. Sub-contractors for the systems integration and hardware support part of the deal will be announced at a later date.
