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==Definition==
A [[Credential Service Provider]] is a trusted entity that issues or registers subscriber tokens and electronic credentials. CSPs play a crucial role in authentication systems, particularly in federated authentication systems where they may act as independent third parties or issue credentials for their own use³⁴.


# Registration**: The CSP registers a subscriber by verifying their identity, often through a Registration Authority (RA).
# Token Issuance**: The subscriber is given a token, which is used in authentication protocols.
# Credential Issuance**: The CSP issues electronic credentials that bind the token to the subscriber's identity or other verified attributes.
# Authentication**: The CSP manages the subscriber’s primary authentication credentials and issues assertions derived from those credentials³⁴.

CSPs are essential for ensuring secure and reliable authentication processes, especially in environments where multiple services and applications require user authentication.

Source: Conversation with Copilot, 9/24/2024
 (1) credential service provider (CSP) - Glossary | CSRC. https://csrc.nist.gov/glossary/term/credential_service_provider.
 (2) Credential service provider - Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credential_Service_Provider.
 (3) . https://bing.com/search?q=Credential+Service+Provider.
 (4) Practice Worx. https://practiceworx.com/.

==References==

[[Category: Glossary]]