GUEST BLOGGER: Dispatches from the 2nd Annual Identity Management Summit

I just returned from the CAIMR sponsored summit attended by over 100 experts from government, industry and academia. It was well worth the trip and a good mix of hard hitting information and lively discussion about what is an identity and how is it determined initially and confirmed in subsequent interactions. There was consensus from law enforcement regarding the scope of identity related crimes:

- It is increasing in size and sophistication

- There is a shift from credit card accounts to bank and investment accounts which provides direct access to cash

- The operating model for cyber criminals is maturing as they add security, capital and computing resources to commit larger and more sophisticated attacks and exploits.

- The mandate to automate health care systems will provide additional opportunities for cyber thieves

There was plenty of discussion and less agreement regarding what constitutes an identity and how to confirm one’s identity. One of the more interesting discussions driven by Ben Bell, Special Advisor at CiNET, looked at whether your identity is what you are or what behavior you exhibit. We live in a world where both views of identity are used for identity proofing as well as monitoring for actions that indicate that the individual acting with your identity may or may not be you.

There was also significant discussion regarding the identity model driven by CAIMR, which will provide a foundation for research projects driven by the group. I look forward to the results of this applied research which may offer clues regarding how to prove and manage and safeguard identities in the future.

George K. (Chip) Tsantes
Executive Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
Intersections, Inc.