The decentralized digital identity feature is an innovation that promises to completely restructure the current paradigm by giving users ownership and control of their digital identity.
Nowadays, people use their digital identity permanently: at work, at home and in all the applications, devices and services they interact with on a daily basis. However, until now, personal data was not owned by the individual, but was controlled and owned by a third party, be it a company or an organization.
Decentralized Identity is the core of the verifiable credentials of Microsoft Azure Active Directory (Azure AD), which is based on the idea that the digital identity belongs to the citizen and, therefore, they are who decide who or where you want to give access to their data through verifiable credentials that carries on your mobile device.
"This is a function with global impact that changes the digital identity ecosystem and empowers citizens. Itis no longer a bank, a hospital or a server that has power and control of the identity, but it is the user himself the owner of his data," says Sebastian Stranieri, CEO of VU, an industry leader in identity verification solution providers and chosen by Microsoft to participate in the public preview of the new feature by strengthening the definition of standards and verifiability.
The new identity model is based on blockchain technology, in which users have control over the management of permissions to use their data, so it is safer than relying on centralized systems for management and works through different credentials belonging to the user. When creating an account -be it work, academic, etc.-, the user obtains a credential that is associated with the set of data that were part of the registration process and that is inserted into the blockchain. Through technology developed by VU, the user scans an ID and takes a selfie to generate verifiable credentials in the Microsoft Authenticator application, which will then be used to prove their identity to different organizations.
The new solution allows organizations to verify a wide variety of attributes, such as documents and electronic data, while giving individuals greater control over access to their information.
Decentralized identity becomes more relevant in the current context because of its universality. That is, the opportunity it provides for multiple organizations and governments around the world to share the same technological language, which in turn simplifies operations and brings citizens closer to government agencies. This can be particularly important when talking about health passports or vaccination certificates. Also, as the debate around the world on data protection and privacy deepens.
"Our vision is to provide the platform for a digital identity in which individuals have more control over the information they share and can restrict access if necessary," said Sue Bohn, Partner Director Program Management, Identity Division at Microsoft Corp."The collaboration with VU empowers businesses to verify information at scale, while ensuring that users have greater control over their personal information..»
Since 2016, VU has worked with Microsoft to deliver solutions that help businesses and governments become more competitive while protecting digital identity, reducing transactional risk, improving user experience and preventing fraud.
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