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PUBLICATIONS

A Taxonomic Approach to Understanding Emerging Blockchain Identity Management Systems

Published

Author(s)

Loic D. Lesavre, Priam C. Varin, Peter M. Mell, Michael S. Davidson, James Shook

Abstract

Identity management systems (IDMSs) are widely used to provision user identities while managing authentication, authorization, and data sharing within organizations and on the web. Traditional identity systems typically suffer from single points of failure, lack of interoperability, and privacy issues, such as enabling mass data collection and user tracking. Blockchain technology has the potential to alleviate these concerns: it can support the ability for users to control the custody of their own identifiers and credentials, enabling novel data ownership and governance models with built-in control and consent mechanisms. Hence, blockchain-based IDMSs, which could benefit both users and businesses, are beginning to proliferate. This work categorizes these systems into a taxonomy based on differences in blockchain architectures, governance models, and other salient features. Context is provided for the taxonomy through the description of related terms, emerging standards, and use cases while highlighting relevant security and privacy considerations.
Citation
OTHER -
NIST Pub Series
Other
Pub Type
NIST Pubs

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Keywords

blockchain, data custody, data ownership, decentralized identifier, distributed ledger, identity management, public key infrastructure, self-sovereign identity, smart contract, user-controlled identity wallet, verifiable credential, zero-knowledge proof
Identity and access management

Citation

Lesavre, L. , Varin, P. , Mell, P. , Davidson, M. and Shook, J. (2020), A Taxonomic Approach to Understanding Emerging Blockchain Identity Management Systems, Other, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.CSWP.01142020 (Accessed December 22, 2024)

Issues

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Created January 14, 2020