---
term: "Identity assurance level"
category: "Agent identity (KYA)"
url: https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/identity-assurance-level
source: AgenticOpenFinance glossary
---

# Identity assurance level

> A NIST measure of how rigorously a person's claimed identity was proofed.

An identity assurance level, or IAL, is a measure in NIST's Digital Identity Guidelines of how rigorously a person's claimed identity was established during identity proofing. Higher levels require stronger evidence and stricter verification, including supervised or in-person checks at the top level. A service chooses the level it needs from its risk assessment, and the level achieved at enrolment limits how much can later be delegated to an agent.

Related terms: [Identity proofing](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/identity-proofing.md), [Authenticator assurance level](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/authenticator-assurance-level.md), [Digital identity](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/digital-identity.md), [Know Your Agent (KYA)](https://agenticopenfinance.com/glossary/know-your-agent.md)