Webassessor is at the heart of everything that Kryterion does. Our revolutionary platform has stood at the center of secure, high-stakes testing for more than two decades. The story of Webassessor is one of ingenuity, resilience, and determination, shaping a path guided by the values that drive our shared success at Kryterion.
So, let’s take a look back at how Webassessor began, its evolution, and the exciting future that’s just around the corner.
Webassessor’s Origin Story
Webassessor began with a bold vision to disrupt the testing industry in the early 2000s. At a time when computer-based testing using client-server models (and even physical servers containing hundreds of exams) was the norm, Kryterion saw an opportunity.
The original idea was to make certification programs more accessible and manageable. Traditional vendors made starting and maintaining a program costly and difficult to switch from, often perceived as holding client data hostage.
Webassessor was conceived as one of the first Internet-based or web-based test delivery systems. Its key innovation was the self-service model, which:
- Allowed certification programs to start up and maintain at a much lower cost
- Gave clients unprecedented control of their data, including test questions and candidate information
This was a revolutionary concept. Competitors at the time considered Internet-based testing to be less robust and less secure than the client-server model.
A few years later, in 2007, Webassessor introduced online proctoring, which, at the time, was an almost unheard-of idea. Lessons learned in these early days, such as the need to make the product highly intuitive, significantly improved the platform. Eventually, IT certification companies like Google embraced the convenience for candidates to test “where they live, learn, and work.” It wasn’t until the shift caused by COVID-19 that professional and trade associations, typically more risk-averse, finally made the full transition to remote proctoring.
Crucially, while many competitors grew through acquisitions, Kryterion made the choice to build a unified platform from the ground up. This approach delivered:
- A better user experience
- Less system complexity
- Greater data integrity and reliability because the item banking, test delivery, and proctoring services all come from one system
This unified design gave both Kryterion and its clients a powerful edge in simplicity and reliability.
No Time Like the Present
Today, the focus is on modernizing and strengthening Webassessor, enhancing its security, usability, and reliability.
Kryterion’s engineering team has delivered several exciting initiatives in recent years, including:
- User Interface Redesign: Reimagining the user experience across virtually every aspect of Webassessor, resulting in a cleaner, more modern look
- AI in Proctoring: Introducing AI to enhance test security, most notably by using it to analyze the candidate’s room pan to make sure no unapproved items or unauthorized test aids are present.
- Accessibility: Significant work has been done to make sure exams are accessible to people of all abilities, directly aligning with the mission of improving lives worldwide.
- Enhanced Candidate Experience: Reducing friction during the testing process by automatically detecting the candidate’s time zone during scheduling, and allowing for instant exam launch (where enabled by the sponsor).
Modernizing a platform that has been around for nearly 25 years comes with challenges, primarily battling aging technologies and legacy architectural decisions. That’s why Kryterion’s team has been working diligently over the last 18 months to replace and modernize the tech stack, a journey that requires constant attention to ensure they are not fighting against old technology.
A major focus moving forward is the development of a lockdown browser that does not require admin rights to install or run. This will eliminate a significant hurdle for candidates using corporate-controlled computers, further enhancing the candidate experience and reducing pre-exam anxiety.
The Future is Bright
The future of Webassessor is dedicated to maintaining the platform’s reputation as a leader in secure, high-stakes testing, by relentlessly pursuing innovation. Looking ahead to 2026 and beyond, Webassessor will continue to advance its mission by embracing future-forward technology. For example, Kryterion is planning to infuse AI throughout the entire test development process. This goes beyond just proctoring and will span from item creation all the way through data analysis.
This and other technological advancements, such as exam delivery on mobile and enhanced exam accommodations management, will keep the platform ahead of expectations. By focusing on modernization, accessibility, and the strategic integration of AI, Webassessor will continue to evolve successfully.
Learn More
Now is the time to put Kryterion to the test. Let’s talk more about Webassessor and how your organization can be on the forefront of innovation, security, and user experience.
About Kryterion
Kryterion Inc. is a global leader in innovative testing and credentialing solutions, helping organizations across various sectors develop and manage their assessments with our advanced test development platform and multi-modal delivery solutions. Established in 2001, Kryterion offers secure, integrated services and extensive support, empowering candidates to demonstrate skills and achieve success in world-class careers.