Editor’s note: The time for federated identity has come
30 July, 2004
category: Corporate, Digital ID, Financial, Library
Until this year federated identity was little more than a vague panacea to most in the security industry. Today, it is a leading discussion in nearly every circle of identity management. I encourage you to read our piece on the topic and then consider the tremendous implications it could have in the other application areas explored in the issue – logical security, document security, and payment.
Federated identity can encompass the physical credential, enabling its use across organizations in such a way that each entity need not issue a physical credential to the same individual. It can address the virtual issuance and utilization of electronic credentials. Its success necessitates an efficient and shared revocation process. And more.
The rapid pace at which federated identity concepts and solutions are developing is truly astounding when one considers the relative infancy of the secure credential markets. It has only been in recent years that credential issuance and management technologies have advanced sufficiently to enable real-world deployments. And many involved in those real-world deployments are still quick to point to the chinks in the armor.
But the time for federated identity is certainly upon us. The discussion is occurring, the solution developers are building, and the impacted organizations are lining up to make their voices heard. What a difference a year can make.
Chris Corum, Editor
Secure ID News