About identification management

Effective identification management helps organisations to reduce and/or prevent fraud, loss of privacy and identity theft by applying good practice processes.

The identification management elements

Diagram 1: Relationship between the identification management elements

Detailed description of the image

This diagram depicts how the elements in identification management work together.

An Entity (for example, a person) wants to get a Credential that they can use to get a service from a Relying Party (for example, an organisation). The Entity goes to a Credential Provider to get an applicable Credential and then either presents their Credential directly to the Relying Party or the Credential Provider presents it to the Relying Party for them, sometimes via a third party.

View larger image (PNG 85KB)

Descriptions of the elements and their relationships

Entity

An Entity can be a person or machine that presents a Credential to a Relying Party, providing them with assurance that certain identification management processes have been previously carried out.

Credential

A Credential is an artefact that is established for an Entity. It contains specific information that is bound to the Entity as well as an authenticator. An example could be a mobile phone or an access card.  

Relying Party

A Relying Party provides services to an Entity and requires one or more of the Entity’s credentials to establish information about the Entity to enable provision of the service. 

Enrolment

The processes that occur when an Entity enrols with a Relying Party to get a service.

Credential Provider

A Credential Provider establishes Credentials for an Entity.

Establish Credential(s)

The process a Credential Provider undertakes to provide an Entity with a Credential.

Credential Presentation

The process of an Entity presenting a Credential to a Relying Party. 

Facilitation

The process in which an Entity presenting a Credential to a Relying Party requires a mechanism to facilitate the interaction.

Facilitation Provider

A Facilitation Provider provides mechanisms for facilitating the presentation of 1 or more Credentials to Relying Parties.

Relying party becoming a Credential Provider

A Relying Party (or organisation) can become a Credential Provider when they have completed an enrolment process and decide to establish a credential that will be relied upon by other Relying Parties in the future. For example, a passport, practicing licence, or staff access card.  

Identification management and other practices

Identity management

Identity and identity management tend to focus on attributes and their management rather than the wider processes and human behaviours essential to prevent identity theft and the impacts of this. The material in this website takes a different approach to the area, to solve many of the problems that have been hampering effective development of solutions.

Privacy and security

Identification management is a practice that is separate from, but closely related to Privacy and Security. While several requirements within the Identification Management Standards contribute to information privacy and security, they do not replace the need to apply relevant standards within these separate practices. 

Diagram 2: Relationship between practices

3 overlapping circles with the words identification, security and privacy in them.  

Detailed description of the image
A diagram showing 3 overlapping circles. The circles are labelled Identification, Privacy and Security.

Utility links and page information

Was this page helpful?
Thanks, do you want to tell us more?

Do not enter personal information. All fields are optional.

Last updated