Identity Proofing
Identity proofing is the process of verifying that a real-world person or entity truly corresponds to a digital identity before credentials are issued.
- Synonym
- Identity Verification
Definition
Identity proofing is the process of collecting, validating, and verifying evidence to establish that a real-world person or entity corresponds to a digital identity before credentials are issued. It takes place upstream of authentication and is critical in onboarding flows. Proofing may involve document checks, HR records, contractual data, face matching, liveness detection, or trusted third-party attestations depending on assurance requirements.
Why it matters
Authentication is only as trustworthy as the original identity binding established during onboarding.
The Ariovis perspective
Authentication strength should match the risk of the journey rather than impose the same friction everywhere. Ariovis looks for a balance between security, maintainability and user experience.
Related services
Common pitfalls
- Organizations often deploy strong authentication methods on accounts that were weakly or inconsistently proofed in the first place.
Standards and protocols
- NIST SP 800-63A
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