Digital identity company Signicat has appointed TÜV Austria as its sole conformity assessment body for audits related to European Union digital identity rules, seeking to simplify compliance as the bloc prepares to roll out digital identity wallets.
The decision follows eight acquisitions by Signicat that left its services subject to assessments by five different certification bodies, creating administrative complexity as the company expanded across Europe, it said on Tuesday.
The move highlights a challenge facing the digital identity industry, where acquisitions can expand companies’ customer bases and product offerings while leaving compliance arrangements fragmented. Consolidating assessments may reduce duplication, but it does not by itself establish that digital identity systems are secure, interoperable or effective in preventing fraud.
The changes come as the EU prepares to introduce European Digital Identity Wallets under its revised electronic identification, authentication and trust services framework, known as eIDAS 2.0. Member states must make at least one wallet available to citizens, residents and businesses by the end of 2026, according to the European Commission.
The wallets are intended to let people verify their identities, share digital documents and access public and private services across borders. They are also designed to give users greater control over the personal information they disclose.
Signicat, which provides identity verification, authentication and electronic signature services, said TÜV Austria would take over its eIDAS-related assessments from the five existing bodies. The transition will take place gradually to maintain compliance, the company said.
“After a period of rapid growth and several strategic acquisitions, we found ourselves managing a fragmented and increasingly complex compliance framework, with different CABs across Europe,” says Jon Ølnes, Vice President of Digital Identity and Regulation at Signicat. “We decided to launch an RFI among the CABs, and TÜV Austria had the best solutions and services to consolidate the situation and address the changes coming with the introduction of EUDI Wallets across Europe.”
The partnership will also allow eIDAS assessments to be combined with other certifications, including ISO and SOC2, Signicat said.
TÜV Austria already assesses Signicat’s identity verification service. Its role as the company’s sole conformity assessment body is intended to provide a more consistent approach to regulatory reviews.
“Signicat’s decision to consolidate its eIDAS conformity assessments under the umbrella of TÜV Austria as a single Accredited Conformity Assessment Body (CAB) reflects the increasing maturity of the European digital identity market,” says Clemens Wanko, Director of the Accredited Conformity Assessment Body (eIDAS) at TÜV Austria. “As digital trust services become more interconnected and eIDAS 2.0 accelerates its adoption across Europe, organizations need assurance frameworks that are both robust and scalable. We are proud to support Signicat as its strategic conformity assessment partner and contribute to the development of a trusted, interoperable, and future-proof European digital identity ecosystem.”
The commercial opportunity is expanding as governments and businesses seek more reliable ways to verify customers, reduce identity fraud and meet regulatory requirements.
Juniper Research estimates that the global digital identity market will grow from $51 billion in 2025 to $80 billion in 2030, a 56% increase over the period. The forecast covers a global market driven by regulatory requirements and advances in digital credentials, rather than revenue generated solely by European providers.
The expansion also creates risks. Digital identity systems handle sensitive personal information, making privacy, cybersecurity and the consequences of mistaken identity central concerns. A system that incorrectly rejects a legitimate customer or allows an impostor to pass verification can cause financial losses and undermine confidence in digital services.
The EU’s framework seeks to improve interoperability between national identity systems and extend their use in private-sector services. However, the success of the wallets will depend on whether governments and businesses can integrate them into existing systems, maintain consistent security standards and persuade people to use them.
The industry must also demonstrate that certification translates into effective safeguards in practice. A compliance certificate can establish that a service has been assessed against specified requirements, but it is not a guarantee against future security breaches, implementation failures or misuse of personal data.
Signicat was founded in 2006 and says more than 20,000 customers in 45 countries use its platform. The company has more than 530 employees across 20 offices in 15 European countries and was acquired by private equity firm Nordic Capital in 2019.
Its acquisition-led expansion, including the purchase of Spanish digital identity company Electronic IDentification in 2021, reflects a broader industry strategy of combining identity verification, authentication and electronic signatures in integrated platforms.
The challenge for providers is to ensure that this consolidation simplifies the customer experience and compliance processes without creating gaps in oversight as services and technologies become more interconnected.
Stay ahead of the Stories shaping our world. Subscribe to Impact Newswire and join our
WhatsApp Channel for updates on global tech, business, and innovation—all in one place.
Dive deeper into the future with the Cause Effect 4.0 Podcast, where we explore the ideas, trends, and technologies driving the global AI conversation.
Got a story to share? Contact Us to reach a global audience with Impact Newswire.
Mohd Hassan has extensive experience in news gathering, editing, and writing for the newswire industry, Contact – Info@impactnews-wire.com
Discover more from Impact Newswire
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
