3.3.3.1 Selecting Initial IAL

Before · SP 800-63-3

After · SP 800-63-4

Selecting Initial IAL

Before · SP 800-63-3

After · SP 800-63-4

Before selecting an initial assurance level, RPs must determine whether identity proofing is needed for the users of their online services. Identity proofing is not required if the online service does not need any personal information to execute digital transactions. If personal information is needed, the RP must determine whether validated attributes are required or if self-asserted attributes are acceptable. The system may also be able to operate without identity proofing if the potential harms from accepting self-asserted attributes are insignificant. In such cases, the identity proofing processes described in [SP800-63A] are not applicable to the system.

If the online service does require identity proofing, an initial IAL is selected through a simple mapping process:

• Low impact: IAL1

• Moderate impact: IAL2

• High impact: IAL3 The organization SHALL document whether identity proofing is required for their application and, if it is, SHALL select an initial IAL for each user group based on the effective impact level determination from Sec. 3.2.4 .

The IAL reflects the level of assurance that an applicant holds the claimed real-life identity. The initial selection assumes that higher potential impacts of failures in the identity proofing process should be mitigated by higher assurance processes.