This story was prepared by Credivera.
This is how Credivera leveraged the DGSI/TS 115 specification to deploy verifiable credentials at scale, the motivations behind their choice, the outcomes achieved, and their experience with this transformative specification.
Based on previous experience within high-risk industries such as engineering and healthcare, Credivera set out with a bold objective: to build coast-to-coast-to-coast interoperability across sectors where the stakes are highest.
Focusing on interoperable identity management systems for the workforce, Credivera’s solutions can be found across professional societies and trade groups, training and post-secondary institutions, global employers, background screeners, identity verification services, and occupational health testing providers.
The Mission: Building Trust and Interoperability for Canada’s Workforce
Credivera chose to create its own category: workforce identity management using verifiable credentials. From its inception, Credivera understood that industries dealing with sensitive data and critical infrastructure require ongoing verification of professional credentials.
The risks associated with unauthorized access, data breaches, and regulatory non-compliance are immense—endangering organizational assets, public safety, and trust.
The overall objective for Credivera was clear: to enable high-risk industries to adopt verifiable digital credentials that would enhance security, streamline compliance, and foster trust among stakeholders.
Key Challenges Addressed
By deploying verifiable credentials, Credivera sought to enable individuals to prove their identity and qualifications quickly and securely, without compromising privacy or operational efficiency. The company aimed to address key challenges such as:
- Enabling workforce mobility across Canada and beyond
- Preventing credential fraud and unauthorized access
- Ensuring compliance with national and international regulations
- Facilitating interoperability between organizations, ecosystems, and jurisdictions
- Building transparent and auditable verification processes
Credivera envisioned a future where digital trust would be a foundational pillar in industries where risk management is paramount.
Why DGSI/TS 115?
As Credivera explored ways to achieve its objectives, the DGSI/TS 115 specification emerged as a particularly relevant and valuable framework.
This specification, developed to guide the deployment and management of digital credentials, offered robust mechanisms for interoperability, security, and governance—key areas that resonated with Credivera’s mission.
Key Benefits of DGSI/TS 115
- Interoperability: Ensures that credentials issued and verified in one system can be trusted and validated across others.
- Security: Emphasizes strong cryptographic practices and verification protocols to prevent credential forgery and unauthorized access.
- Governance: Provides clear guidelines for managing identities, roles, and access rights, maintaining compliance and accountability.
- Verification Practices: Defines lifecycle management of credentials, from issuance to revocation, ensuring long-term trustworthiness.
Credivera chose DGSI/TS 115 because it aligned perfectly with their commitment to digital trust, regulatory compliance, and the technical needs of high-risk industries.
Implementation: A Strategic Approach
Credivera developed and deployed its verifiable credential platform adhering to the requirements of DGSI/TS 115. The implementation process involved several key steps:
- Assessment and Planning: Mapping the specification’s principles onto existing workflows and systems.
- System Integration: Adding secure credential issuance and verification modules compatible with legacy systems.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Collaborating with industry partners, regulators, and experts for validation and adoption.
- Continuous Improvement: Establishing feedback loops and monitoring mechanisms to refine processes over time.
Having a technical specification to follow allowed Credivera to focus on high-value customer use cases and credential types best suited for professional applications.
Example: BCRSP National Safety Provider Network
Within the Board of Canadian Registered Safety Professionals (BCRSP) network, Credivera enabled thousands of professionals to prove their certifications securely using DGSI/TS 115.
This innovation led to faster onboarding, improved compliance checks, enhanced operational efficiency, and reinforced public safety and regulatory adherence.
Outcomes: Transforming Trust and Compliance
The results of Credivera’s deployment were immediate and impactful.
Internal benefits:
- Improved credential management efficiency
- Reduced administrative overhead
- Heightened operational security
External outcomes:
- Increased partner confidence in credential authenticity
- Reliable and auditable verification processes
Credivera was officially assessed twice by the Federal Government against DGSI/TS 115 — and passed both times.
These assessments confirmed that Credivera’s practices align with the highest standards in digital workforce identity management.
Additional Benefits
- Stronger partnerships with clients and regulators
- Enhanced reputation in digital trust and compliance
- Scalable solutions for new markets and regulations
- Greater resilience against emerging fraud and threats
With a focus on workforce identity management, this approach delivered authenticity at scale—over 1.5 million verifiable credentials and thousands of issuers.
Experience and Lessons Learned
Credivera’s experience using DGSI/TS 115 has been overwhelmingly positive.
The specification provided a comprehensive framework guiding every stage—from technical integration to policy implementation.
Technical Insights
Credivera learned that different credential formats suit different use cases:
- W3C Verifiable Credentials: Ideal for degrees, training, licensing, and IDs.
- ISO/IEC 23220-2 and ISO/IEC 18013-5: Best suited for mobile and eID systems.
By focusing on a Canadian specification, Credivera achieved optimal local and global portability and security for digital workforce credentials.
Organizational Lessons
The deployment highlighted the importance of:
- Stakeholder collaboration
- Ongoing education and change management
- Adaptability to evolving regulations
Credivera’s close cooperation with government assessors and industry peers ensured that its solutions remained cutting-edge in digital trust and identity management.
Conclusion: Setting a New Standard for Digital Trust
Credivera’s story is a testament to the transformative power of verifiable credentials and the importance of robust standards in high-risk industries.
By embracing DGSI/TS 115, Credivera not only elevated digital trust and streamlined compliance but also set a new benchmark for security and interoperability.
As industries continue to confront complex identity challenges, Credivera’s experience offers a roadmap for others seeking to build resilient, trustworthy, and future-ready digital ecosystems.