The five essential layers of the government digital stack: building a smarter digital future

Digital Team
Jul 27
4 min read

What are the five key layers for a government digital stack?

Governments around the world are working to modernise how they deliver services. To do this successfully, they need digital systems that are fast, reliable, and easy to connect across different government agencies. The government digital stack model provides a way to build this kind of digital infrastructure. It breaks down complex systems into five key components or layers that work together.

In this article, we’ll explain these five essential layers in a simple way. Whether you’re a policymaker, public servant, or tech advisor, this guide will help you understand how each part supports better digital government services. This article is based on the GovStack initiative, which helps countries build and manage digital public infrastructure using reusable, interoperable components called Building Blocks.

1. Application layer: delivering user-focused services

The application layer is the part that people interact with directly. This includes online platforms and mobile apps where users apply for government services, pay bills, or access health records. It’s the “face” of digital government.

At this layer, design is centred around the citizen. The focus is on making sure the services are accessible, easy to use, and meet the actual needs of people. For example, a digital ID app or tax return website belongs in this layer.

Key features of the application layer:

User interfaces for websites and mobile devices
Responsive design for low-resource settings (slow internet, older devices)
Integration with back-end systems and building blocks
Supports login and personal data access

Applications should be reusable and built to work with other government systems, not built from scratch each time. By using shared components like identity verification or payments (covered in later layers), governments can speed up delivery and reduce costs.

2. Building blocks layer: reusable digital capabilities

The building blocks layer is where the magic happens. This layer includes the core digital functions that can be used by many applications. Think of these building blocks as digital Lego pieces—independent modules that can be reused to serve different purposes across government departments.

Each building block provides a specific service. Examples include:

ID and authentication: to check who a person is
Payments: to handle transactions and fees
Workflow and process automation: to manage steps like approvals or status tracking
Messaging: for sending updates via email, SMS, or in-app messages
Data management: to store and retrieve structured information

These building blocks are designed to be interoperable, meaning they can work together smoothly. They follow shared standards and communicate through secure APIs (application programming interfaces).

Why this layer matters:

Reduces duplication and tech waste
Makes it easier to update or replace parts
Supports faster, scalable digital services
Promotes consistency across agencies

3. Information mediation layer: connecting systems securely

The information mediation layer acts as a trusted connector between all the other parts. It manages how data moves between systems, departments, and even different platforms. It ensures that information is exchanged securely, reliably, and efficiently.

In the GovStack model, this is done through an Information Mediator—a system that controls access, authenticates users, routes messages, and logs activities. It ensures that only the right people and systems can access the right data.

Core responsibilities of this layer:

Secure message routing between applications and building blocks
Authentication of organisations and systems (not just users)
Access control and audit trails
Service registry for discovering digital services
Monitoring and error handling

Without this layer, digital government would be messy and unsecure. The information mediation layer keeps things safe and structured while enabling cross-agency collaboration.

4. Data layer: managing structured information

Data is the foundation of any digital system. The data layer includes the storage and organisation of data that powers services and building blocks. This layer must ensure that data is secure, standardised, and easy to access.

There are two main types of data here:

Application-specific data: such as tax records or health information stored locally.
Shared data repositories: such as registries for people, businesses, land, or vehicles.

GovStack promotes open standards like JSON and XML, making it easier for systems to read and exchange data. It also supports best practices in data privacy, including user consent and the right to be forgotten.

Important aspects of the data layer:

Works with common data formats and APIs
Supports both centralised and decentralised storage
Enforces rules on data privacy and security
Includes backup, version control, and consistency checks

A strong data layer helps governments use data to make decisions, personalise services, and reduce manual work.

5. Infrastructure and orchestration layer: keeping it all running

The infrastructure and orchestration layer is the backbone of the digital stack. It covers the physical and cloud-based systems that run everything—from data centres to internet connections. It also includes the software tools that deploy, monitor, and manage digital services.

This layer ensures that digital platforms are secure, scalable, and reliable. It uses tools like Docker, Kubernetes, and cloud hosting to manage and automate deployment. It also supports testing environments so systems can be updated safely.

Key parts of this layer include:

Cloud and on-premise infrastructure
Tools for automated deployment and scaling
Monitoring and logging systems
Security measures (encryption, identity protection)
Compliance testing and sandbox environments

Without strong infrastructure, even the best-designed apps and building blocks will fail. This layer keeps services stable and ready to grow as needs increase.

Building better digital governments with a strong stack

The government digital stack model offers a smart, flexible way for countries to modernise how they deliver services. By separating systems into five layers—applications, building blocks, information mediation, data, and infrastructure—governments can develop faster, safer, and more user-friendly services.

Each layer plays an essential role. When they’re designed to work together, the result is a digital government that’s more connected, transparent, and responsive to people’s needs. The GovStack approach, alongside global efforts like India Stack and digital public goods platforms, is already helping countries deliver on their digital transformation goals.

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