Identity Verification (IDV)

Identity verification, also called identity proofing, answers a different question from authentication. Authentication checks that the person returning is the same one who set up the account. Verification checks, usually at the start of the relationship, that the real-world person behind the account is who they claim to be.

Common methods include scanning a government ID and matching it to a selfie, checking the data against authoritative records, and database or knowledge checks. NIST describes identity proofing in terms of assurance levels that map to how much confidence a given method provides.

In CIAM, verification matters when an account carries real-world consequences such as financial access, regulated services, or age-restricted content. It is increasingly handled by specialist providers and, over time, by reusable verifiable credentials that let a user prove an attribute without repeating the full check.

Sources

• NIST SP 800-63A, Enrollment and Identity Proofing: https://pages.nist.gov/800-63-3/sp800-63a.html