As AI matures, enterprises and customers are rapidly deploying agents seeking to unlock the next level of automation and productivity. Agentic AI shows potential to handle a multitude of use cases, from buying personal items on Amazon to customer service applications to enterprise security and software development. However, early agentic deployments are repeating a familiar pattern: prioritizing feature development and immediate value over security. This strategy is understandable. Strategic, financial and technical leaders want to demonstrate ROI for their AI investments. Enterprises are

This blog post is #4 in our series on Verifiable Digital Credentials (VDCs). Our other posts can be found via Post #1, Post #2, and Post #3. In earlier posts, we discussed how verifiable digital credentials (VDCs) are issued and compared the underlying credential formats (ISO/IEC “mdoc” vs. W3C Verifiable Credentials). In this post, we turn to the other side of the story: presentation; that is, how a holder shows their VDC to a verifier at runtime in both in-person and online contexts. We’ll again explore the mobile driver’s license (mDL) use case, consider the differences between ISO/IEC

In our last post in this series, we compared two credential formats that shape the digital identity ecosystem: ISO/IEC 18013-5 and -7 mobile documents (mdocs) and W3C Verifiable Credentials (VCs). Both formats define how a credential is structured and shared, but neither can function without an issuance process. This blog post explores what it takes to issue verifiable digital credentials, with a focus on mobile driver’s licenses (mDLs). We’ll look at how issuance works today in practice, where inconsistencies exist, and how standards bodies (FIDO, ISO and OpenID Foundation) are working to

Understanding mDL credential formats Standards in the VDC Ecosystem In our first blog post in this series, we highlighted that VDCs can represent a wide range of credentials, from a driver’s license to a diploma to proof of age. The ability to use VDCs in a wide variety of use cases is a major reason why many are looking at the VDC ecosystem as technology that can change how we present identity and attributes (both in person and online). While credential variety is a good thing, interoperability requires a common set of standards and protocols for issuing, using, and verifying VDCs. The next

Today is the day! Digital Identity Guidelines, Revision 4 is finally here...it’s been an exciting journey and NIST is honored to be a part of it. What can we expect? Serving as a culmination of a nearly four-year collaborative process that included foundational research, two public drafts, and about 6,000 individual comments from the public, Revision 4 of Special Publication 800-63, Digital Identity Guidelines, intends to respond to the changing digital landscape that has emerged since the last major revision of this suite, published in 2017. The guidelines presented in Revision 4 explain the

If you are interested in the world of digital identities, you have probably heard some of the buzzwords that have been floating around for a few years now… “verifiable credential,” “digital wallet,” “mobile driver’s license” or “mDL.” These terms, among others, all reference a growing ecosystem around what we are calling “verifiable digital credentials.” But what exactly is a verifiable digital credential? Take any physical credential you use in everyday life – your driver’s license, your medical insurance card, a certification or diploma – and turn it into a digital format stored on your

Can you recall the last time you opened a bank account? It’s likely you walked into a local bank branch and spoke to a representative who asked for your driver’s license and social security card to verify your identity. Now imagine you want to create a bank account online. The process is likely similar—type in your social security number, take a picture of your driver’s license, and submit both to the bank via their webpage. Seems straightforward, right? Identity verification is important—it protects us from identity theft and reduces the risk of fraud and unauthorized access for organizations

We all need supplements sometimes. Whether it’s a little extra vitamin C during flu season or some vitamin D during the dark days of Winter. When used correctly, supplements help our body adjust to the changing conditions around us. Similarly, we are applying this same concept for the first time to our NIST SP 800-63B, Digital Identity Guidelines: Authentication and Lifecycle Management. Today, we published a supplement that provides interim guidance for agencies seeking to make use of ‘syncable authenticators’ ( for example, passkeys) in both enterprise-facing and public-facing use cases