New Policy Foundation for the Identity Ecosystem Expected to Shape the Future of Trusted Digital Identity
WASHINGTON, DC (October 20, 2015) - The Identity Ecosystem Steering Group (IDESG) - an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to creating the future of trusted digital identities - announced today the release of the Identity Ecosystem Framework (IDEF) Version 1 (v.1). The IDEF v.1 is a policy foundation for the Identity Ecosystem and IDESG's first step towards achieving the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace's vision of widespread, trusted identity exchanges using federated methods that are secure, interoperable, privacy-enhancing and easy to use. The framework establishes previously non-existent 'rules of the road' for companies, government agencies, other organizations and consumers to navigate the constantly evolving landscape of the Identity Ecosystem.
"Today is a great day for the Identity Ecosystem," said Kimberly Little Sutherland, IDESG Plenary Chair and Senior Director of Identity Management Strategy, LexisNexis Risk Solutions. "We're in the middle of an identity revolution - organizations and consumers are online conducting transactions and all face risks to their identity, security and privacy. Until now, there have been few clear ways to step forward and make things better. That all changes today. The IDEF v.1 enables companies to better protect their consumers' data at a time of seemingly endless data breaches, while simultaneously helping consumers to maintain more control over their identity information."
The IDEF v.1's Scoping Statement and Baseline Requirements, corresponding Supplemental Guidance and Best Practices - describe a set of functions that parties must be able to fill, and a set of criteria for fulfilling those capabilities. The Baseline Requirements are an informed step forward in privacy, security, interoperability and usability based on the work of IDESG's diverse, voluntary membership of practitioners, expert in their respective fields. IDESG also included a Functional Model in IDEF v.1, which illustrates how the IDEF's diverse requirements apply to distinct digital identity stakeholders, and how these individual guidelines coalesce into a more secure Framework for the Digital Identity Ecosystem. The result is a policy foundation that strengthens privacy and security protections for organizations and consumers alike by establishing procedures to create and certify trusted identities online.
"Under the IDEF v.1, Identity Ecosystem stakeholders can use the Baseline Requirements to identify and measure capabilities and services today and identify others to implement," said Sal D'Agostino, IDESG President and Founder and CEO of IDmachines, LLC. "The IDEF v.1 includes guidance, listing and self-reporting facilities as part of the IDESG's Self-Assessment Listing Service (SALS). The SALS will support both informal and formal self-assessment. Moving forward, IDESG plans to include an option to expand the program to third-party certification based on execution of the initial listing and IDESG's outreach, activities and stakeholder input."
The IDESG Plenary voted to approve the IDEF v.1 during its 15th Plenary on October 15, 2015.
To access additional information or download a copy of the IDEF v.1, visit IdentityRevolution.org.
About the Identity Ecosystem Steering Group (IDESG)
The IDESG is a voluntary, public-private partnership dedicated to developing an Identity Ecosystem Framework (IDEF) and services to better online digital identity. The IDESG looks to advance the identity ecosystem called for in the National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace (NSTIC). The NSTIC, signed by President Obama in 2011, envisions the Identity Ecosystem as an online environment where individuals and organizations will be able to trust each other because they follow agreed-upon standards and policies to obtain and authenticate their digital identities. Come see how IDESG is making this happen by joining us in the effort and taking advantage of our services at idesg.org.
###
Media Contact
Mary Alice Johnson
ConnellyWorks, Inc. for IDESG
(571) 323-2585, ext. 2140
maryalice@connellyworks.com