Self-Sovereign Identity

Alex Preukschat, Drummond Reed, Alex Preukschat

• Publisher: Manning
• Year: 2021
• eBook ISBN:
  9781638351023
• Print ISBN:
  9781617296598
• Subtopic: Computer Science General

In Self-Sovereign Identity: Decentralized digital identity and verifiable credentials, you’ll learn how SSI empowers us to receive digitally-signed credentials, store them in private wallets, and securely prove our online identities.

Summary
In a world of changing privacy regulations, identity theft, and online anonymity, identity is a precious and complex concept. Self-Sovereign Identity (SSI) is a set of technologies that move control of digital identity from third party “identity providers” directly to individuals, and it promises to be one of the most important trends for the coming decades. Personal data experts Drummond Reed and Alex Preukschat lay out a roadmap for a future of personal sovereignty powered by the Blockchain and cryptography. Cutting through technical jargon with dozens of practical cases, it presents a clear and compelling argument for why SSI is a paradigm shift, and how you can be ready to be prepared for it.

About the technology
Trust on the internet is at an all-time low. Large corporations and institutions control our personal data because we’ve never had a simple, safe, strong way to prove who we are online. Self-sovereign identity (SSI) changes all that.

About the book
In Self-Sovereign Identity: Decentralized digital identity and verifiable credentials, you’ll learn how SSI empowers us to receive digitally-signed credentials, store them in private wallets, and securely prove our online identities. It combines a clear, jargon-free introduction to this blockchain-inspired paradigm shift with interesting essays written by its leading practitioners. Whether for property transfer, ebanking, frictionless travel, or personalized services, the SSI model for digital trust will reshape our collective future.

What's inside
    The architecture of SSI software and services
    The technical, legal, and governance concepts behind SSI
    How SSI affects global business industry-by-industry
    Emerging standards for SSI

About the reader
For technology and business readers. No prior SSI, cryptography, or blockchain experience required.

About the authors
Drummond Reed is the Chief Trust Officer at Evernym, a technology leader in SSI. Alex Preukschat is the co-founder of SSIMeetup.org and AlianzaBlockchain.org.

Table of Contents

PART 1: AN INTRODUCTION TO SSI
1 Why the internet is missing an identity layer—and why SSI can finally provide one
2 The basic building blocks of SSI
3 Example scenarios showing how SSI works
4 SSI Scorecard: Major features and benefits of SSI
PART 2: SSI TECHNOLOGY
5 SSI architecture: The big picture
6 Basic cryptography techniques for SSI
7 Verifiable credentials
8 Decentralized identifiers
9 Digital wallets and digital agents
10 Decentralized key management
11 SSI governance frameworks
PART 3: DECENTRALIZATION AS A MODEL FOR LIFE
12 How open source software helps you control your self-sovereign identity
13 Cypherpunks: The origin of decentralization
14 Decentralized identity for a peaceful society
15 Belief systems as drivers for technology choices in decentralization
16 The origins of the SSI community
17 Identity is money
PART 4: HOW SSI WILL CHANGE YOUR BUSINESS
18 Explaining the value of SSI to business
19 The Internet of Things opportunity
20 Animal care and guardianship just became crystal clear
21 Open democracy, voting, and SSI
22 Healthcare supply chain powered by SSI
23 Canada: Enabling self-sovereign identity
24 From eIDAS to SSI in the European Union

Table of contents

• Self-Sovereign Identity
• Copyright
• dedication
• contents
• front matter
• Part 1 An introduction to SSI
• 1 Why the internet is missing an identity layer—and why SSI can finally provide one
• 2 The basic building blocks of SSI
• 3 Example scenarios showing how SSI works
• 4 SSI Scorecard: Major features and benefits of SSI
• Part 2 SSI technology
• 5 SSI architecture: The big picture
• 6 Basic cryptography techniques for SSI
• 7 Verifiable credentials
• 8 Decentralized identifiers
• 9 Digital wallets and digital agents
• 10 Decentralized key management
• 11 SSI governance frameworks
• Part 3 Decentralization as a model for life
• 12 How open source software helps you control your self-sovereign identity
• 13 Cypherpunks: The origin of decentralization
• 14 Decentralized identity for a peaceful society
• 15 Belief systems as drivers for technology choices in decentralization
• 16 The origins of the SSI community
• 17 Identity is money
• Part 4 How SSI will change your business
• 18 Explaining the value of SSI to business
• 19 The Internet of Things opportunity
• 20 Animal care and guardianship just became crystal clear
• 21 Open democracy, voting, and SSI
• 22 Healthcare supply chain powered by SSI
• 23 Canada: Enabling self-sovereign identity
• 24 From eIDAS to SSI in the European Union
• appendix A Additional Livebook chapters
• appendix B Landmark essays on SSI
• appendix C The path to self-sovereign identity
• appendix D Identity in the Ethereum blockchain ecosystem
• appendix E The principles of SSI
• index
• contributing authors