NIST SP 800-63A provides requirements for identity proofing that will enable an Identity Assurance Level (IAL). Leading solutions that meet this IAL are document verification, facial recognition and liveness detection with strong authentication protocols to meet an Identity Assurance Level 3 (IAL3). Relying parties may select their desired AAL according to their risk profile.
NIST 800-63A IAL3 marked an essential transition from checklist-based requirements to risk-based Digital Identity Risk Management framework in 2025, prioritizing stronger authentication protocols that were less vulnerable to phishing attacks.
NIST IAL3 verification
NIST 800-63A IAL3 verification and Identity Proofing has been updated to include modern best practices and technologies, such as remote unattended identity proofing. Furthermore, continuous evaluation is encouraged to ensure systems can adjust quickly to new threats surfaces or attacks; additionally it offers refined three assurance levels IAL, AAL, FAL in order to include phishing-resistant methods like FIDO2 security keys or smart cards as phishing-proof solutions.
NIST SP 800-63A provides processes for identity proofing and enrollment that allow CSPs to assert identities at a desired level of assurance, while still meeting security, privacy, and usability goals in order to build trust between parties relying on such assertions across online services.
SP 800-63A defines three Identity Assurance Levels (IALs), each with increasingly stringent requirements. For instance, at the least stringent level (IAL1) no identity proofing is necessary - instead digital services will map account owners to their real identities by comparing claimed evidence against strong, fair and alternative evidence; similar to how DMVs require people present multiple forms of ID at registration.
IAL3 identity proofing
NIST IAL3 verification is the highest level of identity proofing and includes additional steps to confirm an individual's real-world identity. IAL3 identity assurance is often needed for accessing sensitive data or critical infrastructure systems and includes additional validation and verification processes to prevent impersonation attacks as well as strong anti-spoofing protections.
Identity Proofing offers more than simple point-in-time verification; its four-pillar approach employs strong phishing-resistant authentication, continuous verification, intelligent analysis and unified processes to safeguard privileged accounts against cyberattacks while improving customer experience. Mitek's scalable and secure solution adheres to NIST 800-63A IAL3 standards for remote workers guidelines while meeting their requirements in full.
IAL3 identity proofing is designed for high-risk transactions where errors in identity could have serious repercussions, such as accessing classified or confidential healthcare data without authorization. It requires superior-strength identification evidence as well as biometric verification in order to confirm real identities and ensure only authorized individuals gain entry to these exclusive services.
IAL3 compliant solution
Compliance with IAL3 requirements is one of the key elements for companies offering cloud services to the US government, requiring on-site attended identity proofing sessions with biometric verification of one or more biometric characteristics and strict chain of custody and anti-spoofing protections.
Complying with IAL3 requirements can be challenging for businesses with dispersed workforces. Identity proofing processes are expensive and inconvenient for remote employees. An IAL3 verification service is an invaluable way of assuring your company employees are who they claim they are and protecting sensitive data from unauthorized access.
Identity verification processes that combine phishing-resistant authentication, continuous verification, intelligent risk analysis and unified processes are the cornerstone of FedRAMP high security environments. A robust IAL3 process can also help your 3PAO meet its stringent requirements; for instance it must verify that authenticators devices like YubiKeys are securely bound to each identity being verified after each session; this protects against stand-in fraud in which one person gains entry while another gains unauthorized access through "stand-ins."
TrustSwiftly’s IAL3 solution
TrustSwiftly IAL3 compliant solution was designed to comply with NIST 800-63A. It uses multiple methods for verifying identity - facial verification, document analysis and KBV questioning are just some - to prevent spoofing attacks and fraudster attacks. Furthermore, its customizable kiosk solution adds another level of protection against fraud.
Importantly, it should be borne in mind that IAL3 does not protect against all types of fraud. A CSP must take this into account when designing its IAL3 process and ensure it can detect and limit such attacks. Furthermore, consideration must be given to any security implications resulting from mandating users use the same device each proofing session.
This step is critical in order to verify that correct evidence has been presented and prevent spoofing attacks that require false testimony. Finally, CSPs must limit collection of personally identifiable information to only what is necessary for unique record resolution using attributes like barcodes embedded onto evidence as part of data queries.
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