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Digital Certificate Service

Last updated on June 25, 2025

The Digital Certificate Service (DCS) ensures confidentiality, integrity and non-repudiation for users through email and file encryption, multi-factor authentication and digital signatures.

Who can order from this supply arrangement?

What can I order?

What do I need to know?

How do I access these services?
 

Who can order from this supply arrangement?

This supply arrangement is available to:

  • B.C. Government ministries
  • B.C. broader public sector

What can I order?

  • Digital Certificate Services

What do I need to know?

The Digital Certificate Service (DCS) was released in early 2016 by the Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO). This new service is built on Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology and aims to further secure information and communications within the B.C. Government and Broader Public Sector (BPS).

To use this service:

  • a user will need an electronic certificate that will be stored on a USB token. Using the token will require a token password known only by the user that owns the certificate.
  • certificates are granted to users by their designated Local Registration Authority (LRA). Please contact your organization's LRA CoordinatorIDIR or BCeID required if you are unsure who the LRA is within your area.

This service provides a digital identity for the specified user which is far more secure than basic username and password authentication.

Primary uses for the Digital Certificate Service (DCS) include:

  • Person-based capabilities such as:
    • digital signatures used to electronically sign documents or other transactions in a legally admissible way
    • email encryption to protect otherwise unsecure email transmissions 
    • file encryption to protect sensitive documents
    • authentication to determine who may access systems and data
  • Device and Website authentication and encryption (Future Phase)

How do I access these services?      

  • Please contact your Local Registration Authority (LRA). If you are unsure who the LRA is within your area, contact your organization's LRA CoordinatorIDIR or BCeID required.
     
  • For all other inquiries, or if your Ministry or Broader Public Sector organization has not been set up to use the Digital Certificate Service, please contact the OCIO DCS Team.

 

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Client Resources

Navigate to our DCS Client Resources page for up-to-date guides, training videos, and forms.