Digital Standards Reference

Building Trust Through Interoperable Standards

Standards are the invisible architecture behind trustworthy digital systems. They ensure compatibility, safety, accessibility, and fairness across borders and platforms. The WDG Standards Reference offers a curated guide to critical technical and social standards in the digital governance space — and supports global alignment through certification and local adaptation.

Why Standards Matter

Enable Interoperability

Enable interoperability between systems and countries

Promote Safety & Ethics

Promote safe and ethical design of digital and AI technologies

Simplify Compliance

Simplify compliance for businesses and institutions

Build Public Trust

Build public trust by aligning with recognized norms

From encryption protocols to digital inclusion metrics, standards form the backbone of good governance and resilient infrastructure.

What This Reference Covers

This page provides a living library of technical, social, and cross-domain standards:

Technical Standards

Network Protocols

IPv6, TLS, and other foundational internet standards

  • Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) for future-ready networking
  • Transport Layer Security (TLS) for secure communications
  • HTTP/3 and QUIC for improved web performance

Cybersecurity Baselines

NIST 800-53, ISO 27001, and security frameworks

  • NIST Cybersecurity Framework for risk management
  • ISO 27001 for information security management systems
  • Common Criteria for IT security evaluation

Cloud Computing & Data Residency

Standards for cloud services and data governance

  • ISO 27017 for cloud security controls
  • Data residency and sovereignty requirements
  • Multi-cloud interoperability standards

AI Model Governance

IEEE, OECD standards for AI explainability

  • IEEE standards for artificial intelligence design
  • OECD AI principles for trustworthy AI
  • Model documentation and transparency requirements

Social Standards

Digital Accessibility

WCAG and inclusive design standards

  • Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1
  • Section 508 compliance for government systems
  • Universal design principles for digital interfaces

Algorithmic Fairness

Non-discrimination and bias prevention

  • Fairness metrics and bias detection methodologies
  • Anti-discrimination testing frameworks
  • Inclusive AI development practices

Digital ID Frameworks

Identity verification and authentication

  • Self-sovereign identity (SSI) standards
  • Digital credential verification protocols
  • Privacy-preserving identity systems

Consent & User Rights

Interface design for user empowerment

  • Consent management platform standards
  • User-centric privacy controls
  • Transparent data usage interfaces

Cross-Domain Standards

Digital Trade Compliance

Cross-border digital commerce standards

Educational Digital Credentials

Verifiable credentials for education

Green Digital Infrastructure

Environmental sustainability benchmarks

Each standard entry includes:

  • ✅ Title & issuing body
  • 📄 Summary
  • 🌍 Relevance to digital governance
  • 🔗 Official links & adoption guides

Alignment with Global Bodies

WDG's standards map aligns with and complements:

ISO, IEC, IEEE
NIST, ITU, OECD, W3C
Caribbean Telecommunications Union (CTU)
African Union's Digital Policy Initiatives
EU Digital Standards Frameworks

It also includes annotations on regional adoption trends and case studies from developing and frontier economies.

WDG Certification Pathways

Organizations and nations can pursue:

Adoption Badges

Recognition for specific standard categories

  • Domain-specific compliance recognition
  • Progressive achievement levels
  • Public verification and display

WDG Trustmarks

Demonstrating comprehensive compliance

  • Multi-standard compliance verification
  • Continuous monitoring and renewal
  • International recognition and credibility

Self-Assessment Toolkits

Peer-reviewed guidance and evaluation

  • Comprehensive assessment frameworks
  • Peer review and validation processes
  • Implementation roadmaps and guidance

Full WDG Certification

AI/data governance maturity recognition

  • Comprehensive governance maturity assessment
  • International best practice alignment
  • Ongoing compliance monitoring and support

These pathways help build credibility and signal alignment with responsible global practices.

Start Standardizing

Adopt Standards

Browse recommended standards by domain or download starter kits

Submit a Local Standard

Share indigenous, national, or industry-specific standards for review and inclusion

Request Certification Guidance

Optional CTA for institutions or ministries