Signicat has unified its eIDAS conformity assessments by designating TÜV Austria as its sole Conformity Assessment Body, a move aimed at resolving the operational complexity created by successive company purchases. The consolidation addresses the administrative burden of managing multiple certification bodies across its portfolio following eight recent acquisitions, including the 2022 acquisition of Sphonic.
Jon Ølnes, VP of Digital Identity and Regulation at Signicat, explained the rationale: "Following a period of rapid growth and several strategic acquisitions, we found ourselves managing a fragmented and increasingly complex framework, with different CABs across Europe." The company evaluated options from various Conformity Assessment Bodies before selecting TÜV Austria. This arrangement delivers a coherent picture of Signicat's compliance standing across its entire service portfolio, particularly valuable for institutions operating in heavily supervised sectors such as banking and fintech.
The timing of this consolidation coincides with shifting compliance landscapes as Conformity Assessment Bodies adapt to requirements under eIDAS 2.0 and the emerging European Digital Identity Wallet framework. During ENISA's Trust Services and eID Forum last year, TÜV Austria's Boryana Uri drew attention to implementation gaps and ambiguity surrounding compliance specifications and enforcement schedules. Uri also noted emerging opportunities for identity proofing vendors as updated regulations facilitate cross-border deployment of video and AI-driven identification approaches.
Clemens Wanko of TÜV Austria characterised the partnership as significant: "Signicat's decision to consolidate its eIDAS conformity assessments under the hat of TÜV Austria as a single CAB reflects the increasing maturity of the European digital identity market." The arrangement enables Signicat to integrate eIDAS assessments with ISO and SOC2 certifications through a phased transition process that maintains uninterrupted service compliance. TÜV Austria currently conducts assessments of Signicat's identity proofing service.
