Federated Identity Primer

Chapter 1

Introduction to Identity

Information in this chapter:

• What Is Identity?

• The Internet Identity Problem

1.1. Introduction

Before we get into federated identity, let’s just talk for a minute about identity itself. After all, if you don’t understand identity, how can you understand federated identity? Identity may seem like a straightforward concept, but it’s actually a little more complicated than people think. What makes it so complicated is the fact that someone’s overall identity encompasses a lot more factors than you might first think. My goal in this chapter is to make sure you have a good understanding of what these factors are and how they come into play. Once you understand the overall concept of identity, then we will talk about ...