In our modern, interconnected world, there's a significant shift in how people navigate and define their identity. Nowadays, identities are available in different form factors, physical and digital, and can be used in multiple ways, in person as well as online. At the same time, new security demands and operability requirements are presenting identity management with a number of challenges, as well as opportunities.

Let’s take a closer look at how identity credentials are changing:

Online personality: digital twin of your identity

In today’s digital age, the way we generate and use our digital identity, namely the personal data we share online, and the information we generate via our online activity, is rapidly evolving. A person’s identity footprint often extends across a number of digital platforms, online profiles, and credentials. However, the increasing interconnectedness also poses security challenges as safeguarding this digital identity becomes key. Given the heightened focus on data privacy, defining digital identity, regulating it and empowering its use is one of the challenges that lies ahead.

Online privacy: safeguard your personal data

As the digital realm expands, perceptions of identity in relation to online privacy are also changing. Safeguarding your personal information from the omnipresent threat of cybercriminals and hackers can seem like an uphill battle. As people grow more concerned about how their personal information is used online and stored, they are seeking better ways to protect their digital identity and to keep their privacy intact in the digital sphere. In this context, Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is emerging as a promising solution, offering individuals greater control over their personal data and enhancing security in the evolving landscape of digital identity.

Biometric identification: use unique physical characteristics

The COVID-19 pandemic boosted the use of biometric data - essentially any unique data relative to your body that can identify you. And its usage is expected to continue to expand due to the prevailing popularity of smartphones. Biometric technologies, such as facial recognition and fingerprint scanners, are changing the way that people authenticate and identify themselves. In recognition of this, governments are increasingly shifting towards ePassports with a chip containing biometrics. We can also see the turn towards border automation, including eGates that rely on biometrics for facial recognition. Companies in sectors such as finance, security and technology are also opting for biometrics because it’s more secure than using passwords.

Cryptographic authentication: ensuring trustworthiness of mobile IDs

Physical IDs come with sophisticated security features, such as holograms and optically variable devices. however, mobile IDs lack these inherent physical safeguards. This therefore raises questions about their trustworthiness.

By ensuring data integrity and confidentiality, cryptography safeguards the information within a mobile ID. It prevents unauthorized alterations and ensures that only authorized parties can access the information. Moreover, cryptographic authentication verifies the authenticity of the mobile ID via digital signatures, providing assurance that the ID is issued by a legitimate authority and belongs to the person presenting it.

Interconnectivity of physical and digital identities

The interconnectivity of physical and digital identities represents a pivotal aspect in the evolving landscape of identity management. As individuals seamlessly navigate between offline and online realms, the challenge is ensuring a harmonious integration of these identities while maintaining robust security measures.

This interconnectedness demands strategies that enable smooth transitions between physical and digital spaces, thereby emphasizing the need for comprehensive solutions that safeguard identity continuity and integrity across country borders, diverse platforms and systems.

As the pace of digitization increases, we have become more reliant on digital interactions that depend on identities. Inevitably, this raises new and unprecedented security challenges. At the same time, this increased focus on security also raises opportunities for organizations to take advantage of sophisticated identity security solutions. Veridos is a trusted partner to guide governments and organizations through this transformation, while helping them to develop and implement modern, secure approaches to identity management.

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