Brussels, 10 March 2008 – The DIS Group, gathering eight Belgian IT experts working for various IT, Audit and Consulting companies, announces the publication of a book describing procedures and best practices for building and operating eID based trustworthy applications.

As the success of the eID card largely depends on usable and trustworthy systems, the publication of these guidelines is an essential instrument for software development companies and service providers. The book contains a harmonized set of procedures and checklists covering legal aspects, policies, technical issues and implementation concerns. Until today there was no uniform method available on how to build trustworthy applications considering these aspects. Knowing that authorities are increasingly making use of the electronic ID card, the book fills in a gap and answers a real need on the Belgian eID market.

With these guidelines, the Group addresses eID application suppliers and developers’ requirements and aspires to increase the trust between government, the industry and the end-users. Multiple purposes are served such as creation and verification of eID based electronic signatures, authentication of eID card holders, authentication verification or card data capture.

“This book, is the first harmonised set of requirements against which applications and services providers can develop and implement trustworthy eID based applications or services”, says Olivier Delos, from SEALED, a consulting company specialised in e-Signatures and eID.

To date, seven million cards have been distributed to civilians in Belgium, a project which will see completion end of 2009 with more than eight million units delivered.

The book can be ordered via www.sealed.be and costs 35 euros.