Assurance Certification Application Overview

We are currently in the Pilot Stage of the Identity Assurance Certification Program. As a pilot program, we intend to be gathering feedback and input from applicants throughout the process regarding documents, processes, and agreements in order to help us finalize the program. Participants who successfully complete all stages of the application and process will earn certification/accreditation, but we do anticipate finding some recommended changes throughout the process as we work together as a team. We appreciate your involvement!

Getting Started

We highly recommend that applicants read the overview sections below before beginning the application process. If you've read the below, or would like to get straight to the instructions please see below.

• If you are a prospective Credential Service Provider applicant - start here
• If you are a prospective Accredited Assessor applicant - start here
• If you are seeking Federation Operator recognition, join the Identity Assurance Work Group where the requirements are being actively defined

Note: The 'Pilot' phase of the Kantara Initiative Certification Program official launch serves the purpose of allowing the Kantara Initiative to gather feedback and learn where improvements are needed. We will strive to remain aligned with application timelines as best as possible, however, during the Pilot phase of the launch the timelines outlined will be flexibly-applied to accommodate the program ramp-up and and potential improvements.

Overview

The Kantara Initiative certification program assesses applicants against strict criteria according to the Level of Assurance desired to be attained, and grants to candidates of the program the right to use the Kantara Initiative Mark, a symbol of trustworthy identity and credential management services at specified Assurance Levels.

Kantara Initiative currently grants rights of use of the Kantara Initiative Mark to:

• services, operated by their providers as Kantara-Approved Services
• assessors, assessing those services as Kantara-Accredited Assessors

The results of this certification program are maintained electronically on the Kantara Initiative website in the Kantara Initiative Certification Registry, which lists both approved services and accredited assessors.

The below chart provides a visual overview of the program, the authoritative bodies, and the associated documents. A complete copy of all of the documents is available here. The Assurance Assessment Scheme (AAS) document outlines in explicit detail exactly how this program operates, decision points, etc., and should be fully reviewed before beginning this process.

Summary of Grant Categories and Evaluation

Terms and Definitions

Approved Credential Service: Service is designated as having met minimum requirement levels associated with the certified level(s) of assurance, as indicated on the displayed logo mark.

Certified Federation Operator: Has completed all of the requirements necessary to earn the certification mark, assuring conformity to defined levels of assurance for a specific federation.

Kantara Initiative Board of Trustees: Comprised of Board of Trustee members of the Kantara Initiative, acting as the ultimate approval authority for approving certifications and the granting of logo mark usage.

Assurance Review Board: The Assurance Review Board (ARB) oversees the certification program on behalf of the Kantara Initiative Board of Trustees (KIBoT) and undertakes evaluations of all types of applications for a Grant of Rights of Use of the Kantara Initiative Mark, making its recommendations to the KIBoT for the award or denial of such Grants.

Accredited Assessors: Kantara-Accredited Assessors have the authority to make certification decisions based upon the terms of their Kantara accreditation and their capabilities as assessors, and the ARB shall make its recommendations concerning the granting of Kantara-Approved Service status based upon the certification decision.

Application for Kantara Initiative Approval: Application that all service provider applicants complete providing general information about applicant point of contact, services being certified, levels of assurance met, etc. This is the first item completed as part of the application process for certifying services.

Specification of a Service Subject to Assessment: Document intended to be used by CSPs to define their own specific Services and the basis on which they intend having them assessed.

Application for Kantara Initiative Accreditation: Application that all assessors complete to achieve recognition as a Kantara-certified assessor, including information on prior qualifications, applicable levels of assurance, conformance requirements met, etc. This is the first item completed as part of the application process to become a certified assessor.

Kantara Assessment Report: Final document created by Accredited Assessors indicating the final results of the assessment to be submitted by CSP to Kantara Initiative for final certification.

Service Assessment Criteria: Establishes and defines the baseline criteria for general organizational conformity, identity proofing services, credential strength, and credential management services against which all CSPs will be evaluated.

Assessor Qualifications & Experience Requirements: Sets out the requirements which applicant assessors must fulfill in order to become Kantara-Accredited Assessors. These requirements are used to validate applicants’ suitability by the Assessment Review Board (ARB).

Trademark License Agreement: Legal agreement signed between applicant credential service providers (CSPs) or assessors and Kantara Initiative, affirming the applicants right to use of the Kantara Initiative Mark at the appropriate level of assurance(s) and agreement the the terms and conditions therein. This agreement is required at the initial point of application.

Fee Schedule