identifieringen

Identifieringen is the act of establishing and confirming the identity of an entity, such as a person, organization, or device. The term is built from the verb identifiera and the noun-forming suffix -ingen, and it encompasses both the claimed identity and the procedures used to verify it. In information technology and security contexts, identifieringen is often part of broader identity management, together with authentication and authorization.

Identification methods include presenting documents (national IDs, passports), biometrics (fingerprints, facial recognition), knowledge-based elements (PINs, passwords, security questions), and possession-based credentials (smart cards, mobile devices). Some systems support remote identification, while others rely on in-person checks. It is important to distinguish identification from authentication: identification answers “Who are you?” while authentication verifies “Are you who you claim to be?” Once identity is established and verified, subsequent actions may be governed by authorization.

Applications span border control, banking and financial services, healthcare, telecommunications, and enterprise IT. In many regions, electronic identification and trust services are governed by legal frameworks such as eIDAS in the European Union, which enables cross-border recognition of electronic identities and signatures. Identity management platforms coordinate identity data, access rights, and policy rules across systems and organizations.

Privacy and security considerations are central to identifieringen. Data minimization, consent, auditability, and breach protection are emphasized to prevent identity theft and abuse. Interoperability and data quality are ongoing challenges, requiring standards, governance, and regular risk assessments.

See also: identity verification, identity management, digital identity, biometric identification, eIDAS.