In an identity management system, the authoritative source refers to the trusted and primary source of information. This source holds and maintains official and accurate data about an individual or entity. Authoritative sources provide the most up-to-date and reliable information regarding identity attributes, such as personal details, roles, permissions, and access rights.
The authoritative source acts as the single source of truth for identity-related data within the system. It ensures that the information used for identity management processes, such as user authentication, authorization, and provisioning, is accurate and consistent across various systems and applications.
Some examples of authoritative sources in identity management systems include human resources databases, employee directories, student information systems, government registries, or any other trusted systems or sources that hold official and validated identity information.
The identity management system typically integrates with the authoritative source, either through direct synchronization or by periodically fetching data updates. This is to ensure that identities and attributes remain aligned with information. This integration helps maintain data integrity and facilitates efficient and secure identity management processes within the organization or system.