NIST Publishes Guidance on Securing Identity Tokens and Assertions
Key Takeaways
- 01NIST published IR 8587 on September 15, 2026, addressing protection of identity tokens and assertions.
- 02The guidance is intended for federal agencies and cloud service providers.
- 03It focuses on implementation measures to prevent identity credentials from being forged, stolen, or misused.
- 04Organizations that rely on tokens for authentication or access control should assess whether their existing protections address the risks identified by the report.
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) published NIST IR 8587 on September 15, 2026. The report provides implementation guidance for federal agencies and cloud service providers on protecting identity tokens and assertions from forgery, theft, and misuse.
Tokens and assertions are digital credentials used to establish or communicate a user’s identity and access rights. If compromised, they can allow an attacker to impersonate a user or gain unauthorized access to systems and data.
The report is aimed directly at federal agencies and cloud service providers that issue, process, validate, or rely on these credentials. Its practical focus is on implementing safeguards that reduce the risk of token forgery, theft, and improper use.