Fime becomes Quebec's first DIACC-accredited auditor

Fime has been accredited by the Digital ID & Authentication Council of Canada as an official auditor under the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework, making it the first DIACC-accredited auditor based in Quebec.

The designation allows Fime to conduct independent audits for organisations seeking to demonstrate that they meet the framework's requirements. The Pan-Canadian Trust Framework sets standards to support trusted digital identity and authentication services in Canada.

The addition brings a Quebec-based auditor to a market where banks, fintech groups, government bodies and identity providers are expanding the use of digital identity tools across financial services, payments and public services. Independent assessment has become a key part of that process as organisations seek to demonstrate that their systems can operate across different networks and meet security and compliance requirements.

DIACC, a non-profit coalition of public- and private-sector groups, oversees the framework and accredits auditors to assess organisations against it. The Pan-Canadian Trust Framework is intended to provide common rules for digital identity and authentication, helping services operate across jurisdictions and sectors.

Fime said the accreditation would enable it to support a broad range of Canadian and international organisations operating in the country. The company already works in digital identity testing, certification, cybersecurity, and regulatory compliance, areas that have become increasingly linked as digital identity systems move from pilots to wider use.

For businesses and public bodies, demand for recognised auditors is growing alongside the spread of digital identity programmes. Financial institutions face pressure to improve customer onboarding and fraud controls, while governments are exploring digital credentials for access to public services. Identity providers, meanwhile, need frameworks accepted by multiple counterparties.

Joni Brennan, President and CEO of DIACC, highlighted the significance of adding an auditor in Quebec.

"Building a trusted digital trust and identity ecosystem requires qualified, independent assessment capabilities," said Brennan. "Fime's accreditation expands trusted expertise in Quebec and across Canada to help organisations advance secure and interoperable digital trust and identity solutions aligned with the Pan-Canadian Trust Framework."

The accreditation also drew a response from Prompt, a Quebec-based industrial research consortium.

"The availability of trusted digital identity expertise in Quebec is important for the growth of Canada's ecosystem," said Ghislain Nadeau of Prompt, a Quebec-based industrial research consortium. "Fime's accreditation reinforces local capabilities and supports organisations adopting secure and interoperable digital identity frameworks."

Canada's digital identity market remains fragmented, with activity spread across provinces, industry groups and government programmes. That has increased the importance of shared standards and third-party verification, particularly for organisations that need their services accepted beyond a single institution or region.

Quebec's role in that market has grown as technology suppliers and research groups in the province become more involved in digital trust projects. A locally based accredited auditor could help organisations in the province access assessment services more directly, while also giving national programmes another approved firm to review compliance.

Fime operates internationally in payments, mobility and digital identity, and has used testing and consulting work as a route into regulated sectors. The new accreditation places it among the smaller group of firms authorised by DIACC to assess organisations under the trust framework, linking its Canadian identity work more closely to a formal national standard.

Xavier Giandominici, SVP Americas at Fime, said the accreditation reflected the company's position in the Canadian market.

"This accreditation reflects Fime's long-term commitment to digital trust in Canada," said Xavier Giandominici, SVP Americas at Fime. "We are well positioned to help Canadian and international organizations navigate evolving digital identity requirements and build trusted digital services with confidence."