Identity proofing

Identity proofing is the process of verifying that a person’s claimed identity matches their real-world identity. It is often the first step in establishing digital trust and is required in sensitive use cases like financial services, healthcare, and government portals.

About Identity proofing

What are the components of an identity proofing process?

A typical identity proofing process includes collecting identity evidence (like a passport or ID card), validating the authenticity of those documents, and verifying that the person presenting them is the rightful owner—usually through facial recognition or liveness detection. Some advanced systems also check against databases for PEP screening or fraud watchlists.

Why does identity proofing matter?

Identity proofing helps prevent fraud, comply with regulations like KYC/AML, and establish trust in digital interactions. Without it, businesses are vulnerable to impersonation, synthetic identity fraud, and regulatory penalties. It’s especially critical for high-risk onboarding scenarios, such as remote banking or gig economy platforms.

What are the most common challenges with this topic?

One of the biggest challenges is balancing user experience with security. Asking users to upload documents or take selfies can cause drop-off, especially if the process is slow or error-prone. Global identity variation—such as differing ID types, languages, or verification standards—adds further complexity for platforms operating internationally.

Secure verifications for every industry

We provide templated identity verification workflows for common industries and can further design tailored workflows for your specific business.