Direct answer
Agent Identity, in this definition, is limited to the following inspected scope. A SPIFFE ID names a workload within a trust domain, and a signed SVID lets a compute endpoint present that identifier for cryptographic verification. The guidelines define assurance concepts for identity proofing, authentication, federation, identifiers, and subscriber accounts for natural-person subjects. The answer carries the source boundaries forward and does not infer authority from a neighboring topic.
Definition
Use the term only for the source-backed scope stated here; keep adjacent concepts separate unless a typed relationship is explicit.
A useful definition states both inclusion and exclusion conditions so a machine answer cannot silently widen it.
Applied scope: A SPIFFE ID names a workload within a trust domain, and a signed SVID lets a compute endpoint present that identifier for cryptographic verification. The guidelines define assurance concepts for identity proofing, authentication, federation, identifiers, and subscriber accounts for natural-person subjects.
Definition and operating context
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Evidence and exact locators
SPIFFE Identity and Verifiable Identity Document — §2 SPIFFE Identity, §§2.1–2.2 trust domain and path, §3 SPIFFE Verifiable Identity Document, §3.1 SVID Trust, §3.2 SVID Components. Establishes: A SPIFFE ID names a workload within a trust domain, and a signed SVID lets a compute endpoint present that identifier for cryptographic verification.
Digital Identity Guidelines — Scope and Applicability; Digital Identity Model; definitions of identifier and identity assurance level; excluded machine-to-machine and API subjects. Establishes: The guidelines define assurance concepts for identity proofing, authentication, federation, identifiers, and subscriber accounts for natural-person subjects.
What the evidence does not establish
The administrator defines path meaning; trust-domain names are self-registered; an SVID does not prove a human, legal entity, agent intent, delegated authority, current entitlement, or correct policy enforcement.
The publication explicitly does not address machine-to-machine authentication, interconnected devices, or API access on behalf of subjects. Those human assurance levels cannot be assigned to an autonomous agent by analogy.
This route must not claim legal advice.
This route must not claim proposal presented as enacted law.
Related definitions and applications
graphEdges: https://policy.mahastrategies.com/policy/tool-governance/definition
same-topic-application: https://policy.mahastrategies.com/policy/agent-identity/sources
same-topic-application: https://policy.mahastrategies.com/policy/agent-identity/mechanisms
same-topic-application: https://policy.mahastrategies.com/policy/agent-identity/uncertainty
property-home: https://policy.mahastrategies.com/
Questions this page can answer
What does Agent Identity mean in this bounded context?
Agent Identity, in this definition, is limited to the following inspected scope. A SPIFFE ID names a workload within a trust domain, and a signed SVID lets a compute endpoint present that identifier for cryptographic verification. The guidelines define assurance concepts for identity proofing, authentication, federation, identifiers, and subscriber accounts for natural-person subjects. The answer carries the source boundaries forward and does not infer authority from a neighboring topic.
Which inspected sources support this definition answer?
SPIFFE Identity and Verifiable Identity Document (latest stable rendered standard inspected 2026-09-06), at §2 SPIFFE Identity, §§2.1–2.2 trust domain and path, §3 SPIFFE Verifiable Identity Document, §3.1 SVID Trust, §3.2 SVID Components, supports a SPIFFE ID names a workload within a trust domain, and a signed SVID lets a compute endpoint present that identifier for cryptographic verification. Digital Identity Guidelines (NIST SP 800-63-4, final, August 2025), at Scope and Applicability; Digital Identity Model; definitions of identifier and identity assurance level; excluded machine-to-machine and API subjects, supports the guidelines define assurance concepts for identity proofing, authentication, federation, identifiers, and subscriber accounts for natural-person subjects.
What does the evidence not establish?
The administrator defines path meaning; trust-domain names are self-registered; an SVID does not prove a human, legal entity, agent intent, delegated authority, current entitlement, or correct policy enforcement. The publication explicitly does not address machine-to-machine authentication, interconnected devices, or API access on behalf of subjects. Those human assurance levels cannot be assigned to an autonomous agent by analogy. Property boundary: This route may apply governance; it cannot redefine or inherit the authority of its canonical owner.
Which definition or canonical owner must be read first?
This page is the local maha-policy definition for its topic. Related applications may depend on it but may not silently redefine it.
What source, policy, implementation, or release change would require revision?
Re-evaluate this page when a cited source, locator, governing instrument, local implementation, or canonical definition changes. Publication also requires a matching exact-revision review and active canonical release.