Identity wallets come in various forms, each designed for specific use cases and environments. Before making a selection, it's important to understand the main categories:
Mobile Wallets: Apps installed on smartphones that leverage device security features like biometrics and secure enclaves. Examples include government-issued mobile driving licenses (mDLs) and digital ID applications.
Web Wallets: Browser-based solutions that store credentials in encrypted form, often with cloud-based backup options. These offer convenience but may have different security characteristics than device-based options.
Hardware Wallets: Physical devices specifically designed for high-security credential storage, typically used in enterprise or high-assurance scenarios.
Personal Wallets: Designed for individual users managing their own credentials for everyday transactions, government services, and online authentication.
Enterprise Wallets: Built for organizational needs, including employee credential management, customer authentication, and business-to-business verification processes.
Specialized Wallets: Created for specific industries or use cases like healthcare, finance, or education, with features tailored to those sectors' requirements.
When comparing identity wallet options, several factors deserve careful consideration:
Security is foundational to any identity wallet. Look for:
The security architecture should be appropriate for your risk level. Enterprise deployments typically require more robust security controls than consumer applications.
Standards compliance ensures wallets work reliably across different systems and jurisdictions:
Wallets that adhere to established standards provide better interoperability and future-proofing for your digital identity investments.
Different credentials use different formats, and wallet support varies. The following are the most common formats:
The wallet you choose should support the credential formats used in your ecosystem. For organizations planning to issue credentials, ensuring wallet compatibility with your preferred issuance format is essential.
Privacy capabilities are increasingly important:
Strong privacy features not only protect users but also help organizations meet regulatory requirements like GDPR.
Even the most secure wallet won't be effective if it's difficult to use:
For enterprise deployments, consider how the wallet integrates with existing workflows and whether it offers adequate administrative features.
Perhaps the most critical consideration when selecting an identity wallet is interoperability. A wallet that works in isolation has limited value in today's interconnected digital ecosystems.
True interoperability includes:
When evaluating wallets for interoperability, look for evidence of successful interoperability testing with other systems you intend to work with. Participation in interoperability events or conformance certification provides additional assurance.
For organizations planning to issue credentials to wallet users, additional factors come into play:
The wallet's approach to credential receipt and storage will directly impact your issuance strategy and user experience. Consider wallet interoperability (see above), even if you only intend to issue a few credentials. Closed loop systems can result in users needing to use another identity wallet for other credential types. This means more for operations teams to manage.
Selecting an identity wallet involves balancing security, compliance, usability, and technical requirements. For organizations, it also means considering how the wallet aligns with business goals and stakeholder needs.
Start by clearly defining your requirements:
Then evaluate options against these requirements, prioritizing standards compliance and interoperability to ensure long-term value.
Identity wallets are fundamental building blocks in modern digital identity systems. By understanding the different types, evaluating key features, and prioritizing standards compliance and interoperability, organizations can select wallet solutions that provide security, usability, and lasting value.
As the digital identity landscape evolves, wallets that follow established standards and conform to interoperability guidelines will offer the greatest flexibility and return on investment. Whether you're implementing an enterprise solution or recommending options to your customers, choosing the right wallet is a critical step toward successful digital identity management.
For more resources on digital identity implementation, explore our Digital Identity Resource Hub.
