Microsoft prioritizes decentralized identity to enhance trust and interoperability.
Verifiable credentials on LinkedIn bridge personal, professional, and enterprise identities seamlessly.
Deep dives
Microsoft's History of Identity Initiatives
Microsoft has a long history of evolving identity systems, initially starting with local accounts on Windows and transitioning to cloud-based accounts like Azure Active Directory. Their recent focus has been on decentralized identity, including the integration of LinkedIn's professional network. By implementing verifiable credentials, Microsoft aims to connect individuals' personal, professional, and enterprise identities seamlessly, enhancing trust and interoperability.
Microsoft Entra's Role in Identity Management
Microsoft Entra offers a range of identity management capabilities, from consumer services to cross-cloud identity management. Within this suite, Entra's verifiable ID product focuses on enabling verifiable credentials and decentralized identifiers. This approach aligns with Microsoft's commitment to open standards and user-controlled identity, bridging the gap between personal and enterprise identities.
Adoption of Decentralized Identity and Verifiable Credentials
The adoption of decentralized identity and verifiable credentials presents opportunities for enhancing trust and privacy in various contexts. These technologies offer a seamless yet secure verification process for high-value interactions, such as financial transactions or sensitive information access. By integrating verifiable credentials as a step-up authentication method, enterprises can ensure user control and trust in diverse workflows.
Future Outlook on Identity and Digital Empowerment
The future of identity holds the promise of empowering individuals and businesses through self-owned and controlled digital identities. This vision aligns with Microsoft's mission to enable people to achieve more in the digital realm. Embracing user-controlled digital identities can foster trust, authenticity, and collaboration in a globally connected digital community, ensuring privacy, security, and mutual respect as key pillars of the digital future.
Today’s guest is Ankur Patel, Head of Product at Entra Verified ID which is Microsoft’s decentralized identity product. We begin the conversation by reviewing Microsoft’s storied history of identity initiatives, and why one of the world’s most valuable companies made decentralized identity one of their major focus areas.
We dive into the recent announcement about verifiable credentials on LinkedIn, which allows companies to issue employment credentials, so LinkedIn members can truly prove they actually work at the organization listed on their LinkedIn profile.
Ankur is one of the pioneers in decentralized identity and his perspective on why enterprises are adopting decentralized identity is fascinating.
