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2.3.1 Permitted Authenticator Types

NIST PIV and digital identity SP 800-63B-4 against SP 800-63B
All changes in this version
added 2 Authentication Assurance Levels part of 2.3

Title changed

Before · SP 800-63B

After · SP 800-63B-4

Permitted Authenticator Types

Control changed

Before · SP 800-63B

After · SP 800-63B-4

AAL3 authentication SHALL require one of the following authenticator combinations:

• Multi-factor cryptographic authentication ( Sec. 3.1.7 )
• Single-factor cryptographic authentication ( Sec. 3.1.6 ) used in conjunction with either a password ( Sec. 3.1.1 ) or a biometric comparison

A biometric characteristic is not recognized as an authenticator by itself. Section 3.2.3 requires a physical authenticator to be authenticated along with the biometric comparison. The physical authenticator then serves as “something you have,” while the biometric match serves as “something you are.” When a biometric comparison is used as an activation factor for a multi-factor authenticator, the authenticator itself serves as the physical authenticator. As noted in that section, local verification of biometric factors (i.e., the use of a multi-factor authenticator with a biometric comparison as an activation factor) is preferred over central biometric factor comparison.