Okta attains IRAP security status for Australian government use

Okta announced that it has completed an Information Security Registered Assessors Program (IRAP) assessment and has been assessed to the Protected level. This milestone allows the Australian Government to leverage modern Identity solutions.

The IRAP, governed and administered by the Australian Cyber Security Centre (ACSC), independently assesses a system's security against Australian government policies and regulations. The Information Security Manual (ISM) is the ACSC's recommended guide, outlining a cyber security framework that organisations can use to safeguard their information and communication technology (ICT) systems from cyber threats.

Phil Goldie, Vice President and Managing Director of Okta Australia and New Zealand, commented on the achievement: "The IRAP Assessment underscores Okta's prominent position as the leading Identity/Security company committed to fostering security and privacy. Okta can now provide the Australian Government with the confidence of an IRAP protected assessment - protecting sensitive data whilst improving user experience."

James Enoch, Head of Public Sector, Okta Australia and New Zealand, expressed satisfaction with the timing. "Making it easier for a greater number of federal departments and agencies to adopt Okta to construct a secure and frictionless identity environment for users, supporting their transition to a zero-trust framework."

With Identity being a vital part of a Zero Trust strategy, Okta capacitates government agencies to enhance citizen confidence in digital services and protect sensitive information, systems, and individuals against cyber threats. This IRAP assessment amplifies Okta's commitment and investment in all levels of government. Okta has a team of over 20 and a burgeoning partner ecosystem focusing on the Public Sector and Education sectors in Australia and New Zealand.

The Department for Education in South Australia, Service NSW, the Australian Red Cross, Comcare, and the City of Dandenong are just a few of Okta's current public sector customers in Australia. South Australia's Department for Education uses the Okta Workforce Identity Cloud for its EdPass educational passport, which has significantly cut the time teachers, students, and staff need to access the required networks, services, and applications for teaching and learning.

Speaking of the Okta platform, South Australia's Department for Education Chief Information Officer, Daniel Hughes, said, "Okta is integrated at the school and department level, enabling teachers or students to log in once using a single set of credentials, accessing relevant applications and services. This integration has cut our time spent identifying and resolving identity issues by over 20%, allowing our service desk team to focus on value-added services."

The City of Greater Dandenong also highlighted the benefits of working with Okta. James Hickmott, Senior IT Coordinator of the City of Greater Dandenong Council, stated: "We've benefitted immensely from their understanding of how the public sector operates and exactly what is required of us, fostering the opportunity for frank conversations which have significantly benefited us."

Last year, Okta attained its U.S. Federal Risk and Authorization Management Program (FedRAMP) High Authorization. Okta for Government High, a secure identity solution created to meet U.S. Government agencies and offices' security requirements, complies with more than 420 baseline security controls for handling mission-critical information.