Bahrain’s Information & eGovernment Authority’s (iGA) implemented major improvements to the eKey system in 2023, which involved substantial updates, expanding its capacity to be able to support 20 million annual authentications and 84,000 new users. 

 

Beyond capacity enhancement, these efforts covered infrastructure improvements and heightened security measures, ensuring a safer user experience while accessing government eServices, said iGA Chief Executive Mohammed Ali Al Qaed, highlighting this as the most significant accomplishment last year.

 

Detailing iGA’s operational and governance achievements for 2023, Al Qaed said works undertaken were in line with Bahrain’s vision for digital transformation and the enhancement of its Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure. These were carried out with the support and guidance of General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, the Minister of Interior and Chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Information and Communication Technology (MCICT).

 

Al Qaed confirmed the deployment of an updated and more efficient system to enhance customer service, improve response times, and monitor more than 80 systems and websites. This more efficiently monitors the Government Data Network and data centers through the integration of advanced technologies such as the Cisco ThousandEyes network monitoring system with the iGA’s Cloud, ensuring higher quality services. These improvements strengthen the Kingdom's technical infrastructure, ensuring business continuity and readiness for future challenges.

 

With the development of the government data lake, infrastructure and cloud services witnessed significant improvements, streamlining the creation of performance indicators and automated data analysis, thereby strengthening government decision-making, and advancing smart government objectives through data-driven insights. This system was recently used to support the Real Estate Regulatory Authority’s National Real Estate DataBank (Aqari), and Tamkeen’s national skills portal (Kawader), he said.

 

Al Qaed highlighted the completion of user files and data backups, a significant iGA achievement which benefited 76 governmental and semi-governmental entities through Microsoft's cloud computing system, enhancing data security and ensuring more convenient access. This project improved government efficiency and mitigated risks associated with data loss.

 

Additionally, over 300 government websites were integrated into the Government Data Network (GDN), resulting in faster, more secure information exchange, with the integration level upgraded from second to third tier. 

 

Geographic information systems achievements included more than 50 improved electronic services on the Benayat and Planning platforms and new user-friendly services, highlighting the iGA’s dedication to creating innovative solutions that meet citizen’s and resident’s needs. The iGA also launched the Botanical Atlas project to study vegetation maps and classify types of agricultural crops through satellite images and field surveys.

 

To bolster the Kingdom's digital transformation, the iGA established strategic partnerships with global ICT companies, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Cisco, and Microsoft. These agreements provide infrastructure, technological tools, and opportunities for knowledge exchange, and support the iGA’s pursuit of eGovernance excellence.

 

A new set of digital policies were implemented in 2023 to advance digital transformation and reinforce data protection, in line with global best practices. These policies lay the foundation for comprehensive cybersecurity and data management, underscoring the Kingdom's dedication to cultivating a secure and reliable digital environment for all users.

 

Al Qaed emphasised the iGA's progress in the development of its cloud computing infrastructure through the configuration of a flexible environment conducive for major cloud computing companies such as AWS and Microsoft being able to host government systems, thereby boosting efficiency, accelerating innovation, and improving eServices. The iGA has also trained government employees on Microsoft's AI tools and services, supporting the Kingdom's efforts to adopt AI technologies to enhance government services. – TradeArabia News Service