Definition
Set of attributes, credentials, and identifiers that uniquely represent a person or non-human entity in digital systems. Combines who you are (identity proofing), what you know/have/are (authenticators), and what you can do (entitlements). NIST SP 800-63 defines digital identity as «the unique representation of a subject engaged in an online transaction».
- Application
- MidPoint: Digital representation of identity: set of characteristics, qualities, believes and behaviors of en entity, usually represented as a set of attributes.
- Standards & regulations
-
- NIST SP 800-63-4 «Digital identity: The unique representation of a subject engaged in an online transaction.»
- NIST SP 800-63-3 «Digital identity: The unique representation of a subject engaged in an online transaction.»
- ISO/IEC 24760-1:2019 «digital identity: set of attributes related to an entity.»
- ISO/IEC 29115:2013 «digital identity: representation of an entity in an information and communication technology (ICT) system.»
- Sources
-
- NIST SP 800-63 Digital Identity Guidelines (NIST) primary source
Related terms
-
Identity Provider (IdP)
System that authenticates users and issues identity assertions (SAML responses, OIDC ID tokens) to relying parties. Cent …
-
Relying Party (RP)
Application or service that depends on an Identity Provider to authenticate users and provide identity assertions. In SA …
-
Access Management (AM)
Discipline of granting and enforcing access to resources after identity has been established. Encompasses authentication …
-
CIAM (CIAM)
Customer Identity and Access Management — specialized IAM for managing customer (not employee) identities. Differs from …
-
Entity
Anything that can be assigned a digital identity and act in systems — humans, service accounts, API clients, AI agents, …
-
Identity (ID)
Unique representation of an entity (human, service, workload, agent) in digital systems, distinct from account (which is …