Blockchain and digital identity

Distributed Ledger Technology DLT , often referred to as blockchain, has garnered a lot of attention in the past few years. This six-blog series, by Rodrigo Mejia Ricart and Camilo Tellez, aims to foster a better understanding of the technology. The first three blogs discuss what is DLT , the debate around key stated benefits and the evidence around different use cases. The last three blogs discuss DLT for digital identity , supply chain and remittances in detail. Growing connectivity and technology-enabled business models are reshaping the production, trade and consumption of goods and services. The digital economy has broken down barriers, opened up new markets, and connected supply and demand often by collapsing geographical distance.

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Content:

• Blockchain-enabled Self-Sovereign Identity
• Digital Identity Management on a Blockchain
• Digital Identity and Blockchain – Should They Work Together?
• How blockchain changes the ‘citizen experience’ in digital identity projects
• Seminar on Blockchain-based Digital Identity Solutions
• How Digital Identity is Making Blockchain More Accessible for Enterprises
• Digital Identity
• Integration of blockchain and biometrics to redefine digital identity by 2030: report
• Blockchain Identity Management: The Definitive Guide (2021 Update)
• Establish Your Digital Identity with HashCash

WATCH RELATED VIDEO: Decentralized identity explained

Blockchain-enabled Self-Sovereign Identity

Securing your digital identity on a blockchain is a smart move for your business if you find having a self-sovereign or decentralized identity important. How does a blockchain verify identity? A blockchain verifies identity by looking at decentralized public identifiers DIDs and comparing them against the current credential or identity an individual is trying to verify.

ID management IdM is one of the core challenges of participatory online practices. For as long as there have been shared resources in digital computing, digital ID and authentication have been. With the explosion of cloud applications and platforms, online identities, and eCommerce, identity and authentication are often at the forefront of compliance and cybersecurity.

One of the primary issues in any discussion of identity and authentication is the security of both digital identities and the systems they provide access to.

Consider the following breakdown:. Both of these aspects of IdM are a priority in any security situation. However, we want to focus on the latter because the storage and protection of digital identities have become significant challenges for service and application providers.

We mentioned that traditional forms of IdM used databases or other storage methods to hold and protect digital identities. There are a few limitations with this approach:.

A modern IdMtool would be able to address these challenges. Many platforms are finding the ID solution in blockchain technology. Blockchain technology is a way to implement distributed ledgers that users or applications can use as a database without the drawbacks of traditional database technologies.

The cryptocurrency Bitcoin introduced blockchains as a form of a distributed ledger to document transactions in the Bitcoin network. This technology had to be secure, flexible, and accurate to support cryptocurrency, and its design is predicated on providing decentralized and immutable record keeping.

Blockchain technology has had a significant impact on several industries and technologies. One of these has been IdM. In essence, the blockchain removes the need for the verifier, places ID information in the hands of the owner, and allows a more direct relationship between owners and issuers. There are, however, several different ways to use the blockchain to accomplish this.

Following that, there are a few different types of blockchain ledgers, including the following:. The truth is that authentication and ID management are more important now than ever. Businesses and consumers have digital identities, either self-created or generated by organizations, scattered across networked devices and platforms.

The management, security, and usability of these identities for purposes of verification has suffered as a result. New advances in biometrics and multi-factor authentication MFA have addressed some of the security gaps inherent in authentication systems, but only to a point.

Poor cyber hygiene and the inherent insecurity of traditional IdM systems expose identities to theft daily. High-level and governmental compliance regulations increasingly demand advanced authentication and identity-proofing controls above and beyond biometrics and MFA. Many IdM platforms are pushing innovation in authentication into new areas, but few are addressing the limitations of current technology.

To address those challenges, 1Kosmos BlockID implements critical security and management controls, including the following:. If you want to learn more about how our private, distributed ledger supports secure, robust ID management for your organization, read more about Distributed Ledger for Identity.

As always, also make sure you sign up for our newsletter to learn more about BlockID and our blockchain ledger technology. Published November 17, Author Javed Shah. Consider the following breakdown: Digital identities are used as part of authentication services , the gatekeeping functionality that ensures that users are who they say they are. A digital ID contains information about the user, including any verification information including passwords, usernames, PINs, biometrics, etc.

Digital identities are in themselves forms of data that must be secured. If user information is compromised, hackers can use that information to access systems and resources.

Traditionally, user information was often stored in databases, which are susceptible to breach. There are a few limitations with this approach: Security : Because databases can be compromised through a centralized attack, it became common to encrypt information. Additionally, databases, since they contain some or all of the necessary information to reconstruct a digital ID, can serve as honeypots that draw an inordinate amount of attention from hackers.

Sovereignty : ID sovereignty, when users have control over their digital identities, is an increasingly popular concept.

Self-sovereign identities may not seem that important when thinking about logging in to your laptop, but it is important when that ID spans social media platforms, cloud platforms, devices, and other accounts. Furthermore, as countries, like India, are experimenting with nationally recognized and usable digital IDs for civic participation, people must be able to control their personal information. Identity Sprawl : Traditional forms of IdM are scattered across applications and platforms.

Having to create and remember the credentials for several identities, users are likely to create easy-to-remember and easy-to-guess passwords and to reuse these passwords across multiple platforms—a severe security problem. Consider the challenges that blockchains address: Distributed Control and Sovereignty : Blockchains decentralize the management of identities.

In the case of IdM, a blockchain can support storage and management across an entire network of devices. Additionally, the blockchain allows users to store and access their ID information on their devices without working through an intermediary. This means that they, not the organization managing the ID, have control over their own data. Blockchains are by design secured. The versions used in cryptocurrency networks use encryption as a way to protect transaction data as well as verify transactions publicly.

Because of this, the design is secure from the ground up, with encryption protocols and other security measures in place to protect information. User Experience : Blockchain identity technology can support more sophisticated verification systems, such as ID federation, or the practice of using a centralized verification authority across multiple platforms or applications.

Due to the decentralized nature of blockchains, users can use a single ID for various resources. This promotes better security practices from users without sacrificing usability.

Within blockchain ID systems, there are three main actors: Owners : The user and the actor that owns the identity. Issuers : The organization that issues identity information for an account, platform or access point.

Verifiers : The third-party that verifies credentials and allows authentication. Following that, there are a few different types of blockchain ledgers, including the following: Public : Public blockchains are those that are, appropriately, open to public use.

There is no centralized governing organization, and users can join the ledger as pseudo-anonymous nodes as they wish. This kind of arrangement supports certain kinds of public transactions but has significant limits for more security-focused applications. The Bitcoin blockchain is a form of public ledger. Private Managed : This type of blockchain is permissioned and managed by a single organization with a central authority.

This provides additional layers of security and control that makes this kind of ledger suitable for security and access applications. Permissioned : Under a permissioned blockchain, users or nodes must have certain permissions to use resources or participate in the ledger. Unlike, say, a public crypto blockchain, not everyone can participate, only those granted specific permissions.

To address those challenges, 1Kosmos BlockID implements critical security and management controls, including the following: Private Blockchain : 1Kosmos protects personally identifiable information PII in a private, permissioned blockchain for a decentralized ID management approach and encrypts digital identities in secure enclaves only accessible through advanced biometric verification.

Our ledger is immutable, secure, and private, so there are no databases to breach or honeypots for hackers to target.

Streamlined User Experience : The distributed ledger makes it easier for users to onboard digital IDs. The blockchain allows users more control over their digital ID while making authentication more straightforward. Recent Identity Management Articles. January 4, December 20, Federated Identity Management vs.

SSO: Which is Better? December 16, December 8, December 7,

Digital Identity Management on a Blockchain

As more people use mobile devices to access services such as bank accounts and shared vehicles, there has been a surge in digital identity theft and forgery. Most mobile identification systems are prone to fraud due to the absence of a certification authority to verify the identity of the mobile ID card. Credit cards and transportation cards have been successfully integrated into mobile devices and are widely used instead of physical plastic cards when purchasing goods or using public transportation systems. However, unlike the other cards, ID cards have been left outside the digital domain. The service launched to the Korean public in June after a year of development and official government approval.

Digital Identity and Blockchain – Should They Work Together?

Blockchain is ultimately a means of storing information, no different in some respects from an Excel file, SQL database, or even a hard drive. Each entry in a blockchain contains a cryptographic hash linking it to previous blocks in a chain, meaning that once data is recorded it cannot be altered without altering all subsequent blocks. One key application that would solve a huge number of problems is that of identity: identity theft is a growing problem, and proving identity is a difficult task that places a huge administrative burden on companies and individuals. Before getting a loan, buying a house or starting a business an individual has to prove their identity, and this can be an onerous task, particularly if you are one of the 1. So how might blockchain technology help create digital identities, and how might they be secured? There are also uses for this technology that could become more widespread: international travel could be sped up considerably by having digital instead of analogue passports, as anyone who has lost a passport before travelling could tell you. Background checks when applying for sensitive job roles could also be done instantly as opposed to through contacting multiple agencies.

How blockchain changes the ‘citizen experience’ in digital identity projects

This EUid scheme could be complementary to notified eIDs under the eIDAS regulation and could be used to access both online public services and private ones. Under this policy proposal, many implementation options involving different governance and branding arrangements are considered. One implementation option could be to build on the notion of the "digital sovereignty" that would empower user control of digital identity and enable personalised online services in a trusted environment. Digital identity management systems based on distributed ledger technologies DLT may play an important role in the implementation of a personal right to identity, with a strong view of self-determination and personal autonomy. These distributed ledger technologies, and in particular blockchain, normally based on public-key cryptography, allow the creation of a registry managed in an absolutely decentralised way.

Seminar on Blockchain-based Digital Identity Solutions

This causes three major problems. The user, therefore, has barely any control over its identity on that website. The website has to provide and maintain a secure infrastructure. The user often does not have any means to stop this data exploitation. Self-Sovereign Identity SSI intends to give the user an alternative to conventional digital identities where the user is in full control and ot her services need to request access to this identity information.

How Digital Identity is Making Blockchain More Accessible for Enterprises

At present various companies across all industry verticals are more enthusiastic and eager to embrace applications of modern technologies. However, privacy and security problems are one of the major bottlenecks in this adoption. Every year we face massive data breaches especially identity theft. For ensuring foolproof identity management, the best solution is blockchain. This technology has the potential to manage and confirm the user identity and credentials in a much better, secure way. It is essential to enforce adequate measures for blockchain identity management , in case we do not want another Equifax. The Equifax Breach had affected the more than million US citizens, as they had their personal data hacked. Blockchains uses cryptography to store blocks of data that are chronologically chained together through virtual networks distributed throughout the world.

Digital Identity

Technological advancements in the digital space has revolutionized every aspect of our lives, from shopping to collaborating with colleagues to keeping in touch with friends to entertainment to managing our finances. Since the dawn of the Internet, identity management has been a key concern, with billions of dollars being spent on usability, security and privacy. Despite this huge investment, managing digital identities continues to be plagued by three Cs — Cumbersome, Costly and Challenging. With data driving the world today, digital identity is critical to most business and social transactions.

Integration of blockchain and biometrics to redefine digital identity by 2030: report

RELATED VIDEO: How blockchain is changing digital identity

Own and control your digital identity and protect your privacy with highly secure user experiences. Engage with less risk, use electronic data verification, and improve transparency and auditability. Decentralized identity is a trust framework in which identifiers, such as usernames, can be replaced with IDs that are self-owned, independent, and enable data exchange using blockchain and distributed ledger technology to protect privacy and secure transactions. A standards-based decentralized identity system can provide greater privacy and control over your data. Microsoft believes everyone has the right to own their digital identity, one that more securely and privately stores all personal data.

Blockchain Identity Management: The Definitive Guide (2021 Update)

Imagine never having to worry about a lost driving license or passport ever again. Imagine never having to worry if someone has stolen your identity. With decentralised digital id, this could be a very real possibility. In the last article we looked at data privacy and how, without respect to privacy at a systemic level, we end up with public user data scandals like that of Facebook and Cambridge Analytica where millions of Facebook users' personal data was acquired without the individuals' consent and used for political advertising. Such scandals scare end users away from sharing their data.

Establish Your Digital Identity with HashCash

On October 7, tech giant, Microsoft has reported that the company will establish the next set of phases for an out-and-out blockchain digital identity system. It is reported that earlier in , the firm has declared that it will set to begin a decentralized digital identity authentication system based on blockchain technology. Still, on this occasion, they included two sets that indicate the statistics of the standards.