EAS project
The EAS Project, part of the Housing Benefit Information Flows Programme, has been set up to build on the security improvements to access DWP information databases such as the Customer Information System (CIS) delivered through the GCSx CoCo. It uses the Employee Authentication Service (EAS) to strengthen security to CIS and other services.
- EAS communications has documents and other communications that will help you achieve EAS implementation, including frequently asked questions, letters and technical updates for local authorities.
- The EAS Business Implementation Guide (250KB)
is intended to provide local authorities with detailed information about the implementation of EASCIS within their organisation. Updated November 2010.
We revised the EAS Technical Implementation Guide in March 2011. We produce the guide to help local authority ICT staff complete the technical set up for the LA Agents and to enable the CIS end users to access the DWP CIS system via EAS. Please make sure you have the most up to date version – this is version 1.46.
We will not publish the EAS Technical Implementation Guide on this website in future. We will send future revisions to local authority ICT staff on request via their gcsx/gsx/gse/gsi mailboxes. You can get a copy from the EAS project Team eas.info@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
If you have any queries or would like more information please email us at: eas.info@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Communicating with local authorities
Please note that the project will correspond with local authorities via their gcsx/gsx mailboxes. Any local authority staff involved in the EAS project should ensure that the EAS project team have details of your gcsx/gsx mailbox address.
What is EAS?
EAS is a cross-government system that provides improved security when people access central government databases. It provides stronger authentication and authorisation of those people through a 2-factor authentication procedure (using a secret PIN and a one-time password generating device or token).
What’s new
8 February 2011
The latest developments for the EAS project include:
- the technical Guide (February 2011 v 1.45) has been revised and is available from the EAS Project team
- LA Agent training sessions have now taken place by region
- over 600 local authority agents have been trained
- local authority peripheral kits and tokens for CIS users have been delivered
- local authority agents are registering and enrolling CIS users
- the DWP National Registration Authority is fully operational and authorising CIS users.
Troubleshooting:
If you have any issues when completing your Operational Readiness Review, please email eas.info@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
If you have any issues during the REA1 or REA2 process please email the NRA Hub nra.hub@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
We will update this information regularly but you can also keep track of developments in HB Direct
Frequently asked questions
We have revised and expanded the frequently asked questions based on feedback from the pilots. The document is divided into 6 Sections:
- Understanding the EAS Project – General Questions
- National Registration Authority
- Trusted Roles within the National Registration Authority
- Running the Satellite Registration Authority
- Local Registration Authority
- Implementation Information
How to register your users onto EAS
All local authority members accessing CIS will need to move onto the EAS system by the early 2011 when the current password access will be shut off. This means that all CIS users will need to be registered onto EAS through a ‘Registration Authority’ (RA).
There are two ways to access an RA:
- Your local authority may be establishing its own RA or be linked to an LA that is establishing its own RA. If you are unsure if your LA is establishing an RA your corporate IT or the DFE EAS team should be able to help
- DWP has established a national RA that will have a UK wide reach to support access to CIS and other services for LAs without access to an RA.
If you have any queries or would like more information please email us at eas.info@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
