What is a government messaging app? 6 must-have key features

When we're talking about government messaging apps, what are we talking about?

Messaging has become a popular mode of communication because of the desire for ease, real-time conversations, and access from anywhere, at any time. 

In fact, Gartner's 2022 Channel Benchmark and other research studies show that instant messaging platforms have surpassed email as the primary mode of internal workplace communication.

Security and privacy are critical for governments and regulated businesses, particularly when employing enterprise communications systems.

The government messaging app provides a secure communication solution for government agencies, municipalities, ministries, and other public services institutions.

These systems are specifically developed to fulfill the special needs and challenges that government organizations confront, assuring confidentiality, compliance, and efficient communication. 

Let us look at the concept of government messaging applications, their distinguishing qualities, and the most important factors to consider while selecting the right platform.

Defining government messaging apps

Government messaging apps, often known as government chat platforms, are specialized communication technologies designed specifically for usage within governmental institutions. 

Unlike consumer messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram, government communication apps are designed with strict security and compliance criteria to protect sensitive information.

Why do consumer messaging applications have no place in government organizations?

Based on the history of leaks and data breaches outlined previously, it is evident that consumer-grade messaging applications have no place in government and regulated companies, and using them can carry significant danger.

Here are some limitations to consider when governments and businesses in highly regulated industries rely on consumer-grade apps:

• Backups are not necessarily secure
• Record-keeping and archiving skills are lacking
• A lack of identity authentication allows for scams, phishing attempts, and malware entanglements, which can result in data exfiltration
• No safeguards from accidental sharing of confidential data (lack of control of what can get shared

Consumer apps are built for scalability and extensibility, not for security. They frequently lack the encryption and security standards required for transmitting mission-critical communications, Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), and National Security Information (NSI).

Secure cooperation has become a significant issue for government organizations. These messaging apps play an important role in modern governance by enabling secure and efficient communication across the public sector. 

Government messaging apps are the most secure messaging apps and have a variety of uses, including internal communication among government officials, citizen involvement, public safety communication, and military chat.

The functionality of government messaging apps

Government messaging apps provide government and public sector agencies with a highly secure and dependable mobile chat app that improves communication and cooperation within the agency and interactions with the public. 

Government messaging tools provide a variety of features to meet the different needs of government operations. These include: 

• Secure internal communication channels for officials to communicate sensitive information 
• Real-time government collaboration capabilities for project management and decision-making 
• Public-facing channels for citizen communication and involvement

It unites many government departments and ministries so that they can discuss various initiatives using a unified group chat and video function. The encrypted messaging app ensures the security of all communications, including file sharing. 

Additionally, these apps enable compliance with legal and security standards, ensuring that government communications align with regulatory criteria.

Essential features of government messaging apps

Let’s go over some crucial features to look for in these apps:

1. Security

Government messaging tools prioritize security by including end-to-end encryption, secure data storage, and strong access controls. These safeguards protect sensitive data from illegal access and maintain confidentiality.

2. Compliance

Government messaging apps frequently undergo rigorous certifications to meet legal requirements and follow industry standards like HIPAA, GDPR, CCPA, and FedRAMP. Compliance with these regulations is critical to ensuring the integrity and credibility of government communications.

3. User authentication

Secure login measures, such as multi-factor authentication and biometric verification, help identify users and prevent unauthorized access to government communications systems.

4. Data sovereignty

Government messaging platforms keep data under government control and in compliance with data sovereignty requirements. This bans data from being stored or processed in jurisdictions other than those established by the government.

5. Interoperability

For government organizations to maximize efficiency and productivity, additional software systems, such as CRM platforms and project management tools, must be seamlessly integrated.

6. User experience

While security is a top priority, government messaging apps also try to provide an easy-to-use experience for officials and other consumers. Intuitive interfaces, responsive design, and accessibility features that do not compromise security improve usability.

Top providers of government messaging apps

Here are top chat apps used by governments:

• Rocket.Chat
• Mattermost
• Wickr
• Vaporstream
• TroopMessenger