Type and Strength of authentication: This document covers different types of authentication mechanisms, such as knowledge-based authentication (such as passwords), owner-based authentication (such as smart cards), and internal-based authentication (such as biometrics). It also discusses the strength of authentication, which depends on factors such as the length and complexity of the password, the biometric system’s resistance to spoofing, and the security of the underlying authentication infrastructure.
Lifecycle management: Lifecycle management refers to the processes involved in creating, using, maintaining, and revoking a digital identity. NIST SP 800-63B provides guidance on how to securely manage these processes, including proof of identity (verifying a person’s identity), identity registration (capturing and storing identity information), account management (monitoring and managing user accounts), and termination (deactivating and archiving identities when they are no longer needed).
Risk-based Approach: The guidance encourages organizations to adopt a risk-based approach to digital identity management. This means that organizations should assess the risks associated with different authentication methods and lifecycle management practices based on their specific needs and circumstances. By considering risk, organizations can make informed decisions about the appropriate level of authentication and lifecycle management controls to implement.
Availability and accessibility :NIST SP 800-63B also recognizes the importance of availability and accessibility in digital identity systems. It emphasizes the need to design authentication and lifecycle management processes that are easy to use and accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. By ensuring availability and accessibility, organizations can reduce the burden on users and minimize the risk of security breaches caused by frustrated or confused users.
Compliance and interoperability: The guidance addresses compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards, as well as interoperability requirements between different digital identity systems. By ensuring compliance and interoperability, organizations can facilitate the exchange of identity information and authenticate users across different systems and platforms.
The article provides guidelines for digital identity management, focusing on authentication and lifecycle management of digital identities. It offers technical requirements for federal agencies implementing digital authentication services, detailing the authentication process for subjects interacting with government systems over open networks. The document defines technical requirements for three authenticator assurance levels (AALs) and discusses the lifecycle of authenticators, including revocation in the event of loss or theft. The guidelines aim to ensure secure and reliable digital authentication to protect against fraudulent claims of identity and enhance online security.
Digital identity is unique within the context of a digital service but doesn’t necessarily need to be linked to a real-life identity. Digital authentication, which validates the use of one or more authenticators to claim a digital identity. Authentication ensures that the subject attempting to access a digital service controls the technologies used for authentication, providing assurances that the individual accessing the service is the same as in previous visits.
Furthermore, the document offers recommendations on various authentication processes and the selection of authenticators at different Authenticator Assurance Levels (AALs). It also covers the lifecycle management of authenticators, including their revocation in cases of loss or theft.
Type and Strength of authentication: This document covers different types of authentication mechanisms, such as knowledge-based authentication (such as passwords), owner-based authentication (such as smart cards), and internal-based authentication (such as biometrics). It also discusses the strength of authentication, which depends on factors such as the length and complexity of the password, the biometric system’s resistance to spoofing, and the security of the underlying authentication infrastructure.
Lifecycle management: Lifecycle management refers to the processes involved in creating, using, maintaining, and revoking a digital identity. NIST SP 800-63B provides guidance on how to securely manage these processes, including proof of identity (verifying a person’s identity), identity registration (capturing and storing identity information), account management (monitoring and managing user accounts), and termination (deactivating and archiving identities when they are no longer needed).
Risk-based Approach: The guidance encourages organizations to adopt a risk-based approach to digital identity management. This means that organizations should assess the risks associated with different authentication methods and lifecycle management practices based on their specific needs and circumstances. By considering risk, organizations can make informed decisions about the appropriate level of authentication and lifecycle management controls to implement.
Availability and accessibility :NIST SP 800-63B also recognizes the importance of availability and accessibility in digital identity systems. It emphasizes the need to design authentication and lifecycle management processes that are easy to use and accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. By ensuring availability and accessibility, organizations can reduce the burden on users and minimize the risk of security breaches caused by frustrated or confused users.
Compliance and interoperability: The guidance addresses compliance with relevant laws, regulations, and standards, as well as interoperability requirements between different digital identity systems. By ensuring compliance and interoperability, organizations can facilitate the exchange of identity information and authenticate users across different systems and platforms.
The article provides guidelines for digital identity management, focusing on authentication and lifecycle management of digital identities. It offers technical requirements for federal agencies implementing digital authentication services, detailing the authentication process for subjects interacting with government systems over open networks. The document defines technical requirements for three authenticator assurance levels (AALs) and discusses the lifecycle of authenticators, including revocation in the event of loss or theft. The guidelines aim to ensure secure and reliable digital authentication to protect against fraudulent claims of identity and enhance online security.
Digital identity is unique within the context of a digital service but doesn’t necessarily need to be linked to a real-life identity. Digital authentication, which validates the use of one or more authenticators to claim a digital identity. Authentication ensures that the subject attempting to access a digital service controls the technologies used for authentication, providing assurances that the individual accessing the service is the same as in previous visits.
Furthermore, the document offers recommendations on various authentication processes and the selection of authenticators at different Authenticator Assurance Levels (AALs). It also covers the lifecycle management of authenticators, including their revocation in cases of loss or theft.