Digital Identity Guidelines: Federation and Assertions [includes updates as of 03-02-2020]

Published

March 2, 2020

Author(s)

Paul A. Grassi, Justin P. Richer, Sarah K. Squire, James L. Fenton, Ellen M. Nadeau, Naomi B. Lefkovitz, Jamie M. Danker, Yee-Yin Choong, Kristen Greene, Mary F. Theofanos

Abstract

This document and its companion documents, SP 800-63, SP 800-63A, and SP 800-63B, provide technical and procedural guidelines to agencies for the implementation of federated identity systems and for assertions used by federations. This publication supersedes corresponding sections of SP 800-63-2. These guidelines provide technical requirements for federal agencies implementing digital identity services and are not intended to constrain the development or use of standards outside of this purpose. This guideline focuses on the use of federated identity and the use of assertions to implement identity federations. Federation allows a given credential service provider to provide authentication and (optionally) subscriber attributes to a number of separately-administered relying parties. Similarly, relying parties may use more than one credential service provider.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 800-63C

Report Number

800-63C

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Supercedes Publication

Digital Identity Guidelines: Federation and Assertions [including updates as of 12-01-2017]

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DOI Link

Keywords

assertions, authentication, credential service provider, digital authentication, electronic authentication, electronic credentials, federations

Citation

Grassi, P. , Richer, J. , Squire, S. , Fenton, J. , Nadeau, E. , Lefkovitz, N. , Danker, J. , Choong, Y. , Greene, K. and Theofanos, M. (2020), Digital Identity Guidelines: Federation and Assertions [includes updates as of 03-02-2020], Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.800-63c (Accessed October 15, 2025)