This Recommendation provides a framework for managing entity authentication assurance in a given context. In particular, it:

- specifies four levels of entity authentication assurance;

- specifies criteria and guidelines for achieving each of the four levels of entity authentication assurance;

- provides guidance for mapping other authentication assurance schemes to the four LoAs;

- provides guidance for exchanging the results of authentication that are based on the four LoAs; and

- provides guidance concerning controls that should be used to mitigate authentication threats.