Certified Open^® is designed to help measure and encourage competition through the provision of a framework for evaluating technical and commercial lock-in where that may reduce the ability of suppliers to compete in the provision of software, hardware and services.

Certified Open provides a "kitemark" for openness of Products and Services to enable:-

- Open Competitive Choice
- Freedom from Lock-in
- Interoperability

This service is currently under validation. All are welcome to apply for Products & Services registration.

The new Certified Open® programme will ensure that IT managers are able to make informed procurement decisions based upon the openness of products and services, which have been assessed against an open framework.

Freedom to make decisions based on creating ‘best value’ is a critical element of professional procurement, as is the ability to interoperate both within and across organizations and national boundaries. Given the extent of current technological development, restricting technology options (‘lock outs’) - "Managing the Risk of Lock-in" - now will mean that future opportunities will not be available to be channelled into key citizen and business services.

The a key initiatives within the program is:-

- "Certified Open Products and Services Program” that verifies that both the products or the services created by an organisation are "certified open"

The Certified Open site will be fully operational soon.