Identity resolution, authentication, and management is a broad market with significant variation between the types of products offered. Middleware is implemented in federated and application specific systems.

The ability to identify fraudulent people proactively is an emerging issue tackled with identity resolution suites. The technology to implement identity resolution is also useful for business analysis of transaction objects. The ability to create correlations, at high speed, between similar objects is fundamental to the next stage of business process management.

Middleware is needed for digital identity management because it leaves the information in place and operates on it there. The ability to move information from one place to another for analysis is good, but the accuracy of information is best assured by leaving it where it is gathered originally.

Digital identity management software enables companies to share and compare information with other companies or government agencies without identifying the people connected to it. The software for anonymous resolution enables companies or government agencies to share personal information on customers or citizens without identifying them.

The software converts data on a person into a string of random characters, using a one-way hash function technique. No names, addresses or Social Security numbers re embedded within the character string. The strings are fed through a program to detect a matching pattern of characters.

Critical components of identity and access management include identity resolution, Web and host single sign-on, user provisioning, advanced and legacy authentication, public key infrastructure, and directory services. Full suites comprise solutions that include directory services, provisioning, secure access/authentication and, federated identity elements.

The market forecasts for 2005-2011, in the worldwide identity and access management market, is expected to double by the year 2011.

This is the 270th report in a series of market research reports that provide forecasts in communications, telecommunications, the internet, computer, software, and telephone equipment. The project leaders take direct responsibility for writing and preparing each report. They have significant experience preparing industry studies. Forecasts are based on primary research and proprietary data bases. Forecasts reflect analysis of the market trends in the segment and related segments. Unit and dollar shipments are analyzed through consideration of dollar volume of each market participation in the segment. Market share analysis includes conversations with key customers of products, industry segment leaders, marketing directors, distributors, leading market participants, and companies seeking to develop measurable market share. Over 200 in-depth interviews are conducted for each report with a broad range of key participants and opinion leaders in the market segment.