Blockchain Tech in Government

When it comes to trendy technology, you’ve probably heard the word blockchain thrown around. The excitement around blockchain has to do with its unique approach toward data that could accelerate key functions in a government agency. Simply put, blockchains can transform the operational foundations for governments. In this blog, we’ll explain exactly what blockchain is, what it does, and how government institutions are applying blockchain tech.

What is blockchain technology?

Blockchains are a distributed and decentralized “digital ledger” that allows for users to record and validate transactions in a safe and tamper-proof environment. Data is collected and shared through private keys for users to validate information. The data is stored across multiple computers, which protects it against tampering.

Each transaction is grouped into blocks that are all linked together through various sources. This guarantees integrity and makes it the ideal technology for supply chain management, cryptocurrencies, and other capability areas that require information validation.

How is this being applied in government agencies?

State and local governments deal with proprietary information for all their constituents. This information often requires a lot of protection and verification. Here are some of the different ways to use blockchain tech in government:

1. Enabling secure identity management

The immutable nature of blockchain means that once a person’s information is validated, it cannot be altered. This both secures the information and protects governments from data breaches.

2. E-voting

Through leveraging the decentralization and transparency of blockchain tech, governments can prevent fraud and manipulation with their voting systems and increased trust in the process. Much like the previous example, voter information is protected through multiple “blocks” and linked together to complete the whole picture for verification.

3. Government healthcare

Blockchain technology provides secure storage across multiple network nodes to help with patient privacy and overall network security. This can allow for a more patient-centric approach with data collection rather than using intermediaries to protect and store valuable data.

Blockchain technology is relatively new—it has only been available for around 20 years—and it is continuously evolving. It’s unique features when it comes to protecting, storing, and verifying data has been revolutionary in many industry sectors. Using this technology for your government agency potentially can make a significant difference when it comes to efficiency and security.