\ \ May 19, 2026\ \ Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)\ \ \ This Leadership Compass Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) provides an overview of the IGA market and a compass to help you find a solution that best meets your needs. It examines solutions that provide both identity lifecycle management and access governance capabilities. Solutions have](/content/research/lc80864/identity-governance-and-administration-iga/index.html)

\ \ May 18, 2026\ \ Privileged Access Management (PAM)\ \ \ This KuppingerCole Leadership Compass provides an overview of the leading vendors in the Privileged Access Management (PAM) market, assessing their innovation, product capabilities, and market presence. PAM solutions enable organizations to control, manage, and monitor privileged access across](/content/research/lc81007/privileged-access-management-pam/index.html)

\ \ Apr 29, 2026\ \ Managed Detection and Response\ \ \ This KuppingerCole Analysts Leadership Compass provides an overview of the Managed Detection and Response (MDR) market in 2026. It examines services that detect, analyze, investigate, and respond to cyber threats across diverse environments, and evaluates the ability of vendors to deliver](/content/research/lc80871/managed-detection-and-response/index.html)

\ \ May 19, 2026\ \ Identity Governance and Administration (IGA)\ \ \ Modern access governance is strained by identity sprawl (including non-human identities), complex joiner/mover/leaver lifecycles, manual reviews at scale, and integration gaps that create blind spots. IGA platforms centralize identity/entitlement inventories, automate provisioning and](/content/research/bc81004/identity-governance-and-administration-iga/index.html)

\ \ May 18, 2026\ \ Privileged Access Management (PAM)\ \ \ Privileged access has expanded from admin accounts to high-impact actions across human, machine, application, and automated identities in dynamic hybrid/cloud environments. Key problems include action-based privilege definition, fragmented visibility, non-human identity risk, privilege sprawl, and](/content/research/bc81009/privileged-access-management-pam/index.html)

\ \ May 11, 2026\ \ Managed Detection and Response\ \ \ Escalating threats, alert overload, fragmented tooling, and scarce SOC skills drive slow detection and response. Managed Detection and Response (MDR) provides 24/7 monitoring, telemetry correlation, validated detection, and analyst-led investigation/response, augmented by automation and AI. Modern](/content/research/bc81061/managed-detection-and-response/index.html)

\ \ May 15, 2026\ \ Navigating the Agentic AI Security Landscape\ \ \ Enterprise AI deployments have passed a threshold that most security frameworks were not designed for. Agentic AI (autonomous, tool-using systems that chain actions, delegate to sub-agents, and operate continuously on behalf of users) is already in production across a growing number of](/content/research/an82020/navigating-the-agentic-ai-security-landscape/index.html)

\ \ Apr 22, 2026\ \ KuppingerCole 2nd Level Reference Architecture for CIAM\ \ \ The purpose of this document is to define the KuppingerCole Analysts 2nd Level Reference Architecture for CIAM, providing a structured and consistent model for designing, evaluating, and evolving Customer Identity and Access Management (CIAM) solutions.\ It focuses exclusively on capabilities](/content/research/an81080/kuppingercole-2nd-level-reference-architecture-for-ciam/index.html)

\ \ Mar 23, 2026\ \ Make or Buy: Bringing Structure and Transparency to Strategic Decisions\ \ \ Make or buy decisions are a recurring challenge in Identity and Access Management (IAM) and beyond. While the question appears straightforward, the underlying decision is rarely simple. Organizations must balance multiple, often conflicting dimensions such as cost, functionality, technical](/content/research/an82018/make-or-buy/index.html)

\ \ Jun 01, 2026\ \ Application Inventory - Identify What to Protect. Are You Missing Critical Assets?\ \ \ This whitepaper examines Application Inventory Management (AIM) as a critical, yet often underestimated, enabler for Identity and Access Management (IAM). It shows how incomplete or poorly maintained application inventories undermine IAM initiatives by increasing manual effort, fragmentation, and](/content/research/wp81148/application-inventory-identify-what-to-protect-are/index.html)

\ \ May 13, 2026\ \ Governing Third-Party Privileged Access: Moving Beyond VPN-Based Collaboration\ \ \ Organizations rely on third parties that require remote access to internal systems and operational platforms. Managing this privileged third-party access creates operational and security challenges, particularly when external identities fall outside established governance processes. Many](/content/research/wp81146/governing-third-party-privileged-access/index.html)

\ \ Apr 22, 2026\ \ Access Fabric: Uniting Access Control across Endpoints, Networks and Identity\ \ \ Access Fabric presents a transformative approach in enhancing enterprise security frameworks by integrating identity, network, device, and business signals into a unified, context-aware system. It describes how this new model resolves the limitations of traditional, siloed security practices,](/content/research/wp81140/access-fabric/index.html)

\ \ May 11, 2026\ \ Tuebora\ \ \ Modern IGA struggles with manual governance, siloed identity data, and rising non-human identities (bots, service accounts, AI agents). Tuebora’s roadmap targets lower IGA TCO via dual AI vs deterministic operation, natural-language configuration in Tuebora Studio, a Neo4j-based Unified Identity](/content/research/ev81301/tuebora/index.html)

\ \ Mar 20, 2026\ \ NEXIS Platform - IVIP Capabilities\ \ \ Identity Visibility and Intelligence Platforms (IVIP) unify data from IGA, PAM, AM, and ITDR to resolve fragmented access visibility and enable analytics-driven governance. The NEXIS Platform delivers IVIP plus converged IAM/GRC: role management/mining, cross-application SoD, identity graphs,](/content/research/ev81145/nexis-platform-ivip-capabilities/index.html)

\ \ Jan 18, 2026\ \ Memority\ \ \ Identity Fabrics unify disparate IAM solutions, enabling secure, scalable identity management across complex environments. Leveraging microservices, API-centric design, and Zero Trust principles, these fabrics offer seamless integration and advanced analytics. Memority’s 360° Identity Factory,](/content/research/ev81445/memority/index.html)

\ \ May 28, 2026\ \ No API Security, No AI Security\ \ \ Every AI system acts through APIs: retrieving context, invoking tools, and chaining decisions across enterprise infrastructure. Yet most organizations govern API security, generative AI defense, and non-human identity management as separate disciplines, leaving the gaps unprotected. This Leadership](/content/research/lb80920/no-api-security-no-ai-security/index.html)

\ \ May 15, 2026\ \ Crypto-Agility: Managing Cryptographic Change in the Post-Quantum Era\ \ \ Crypto-agility has become an urgent enterprise requirement as post-quantum cryptography, expanding machine identity ecosystems, and growing regulatory expectations expose the risks of treating cryptographic infrastructure as static. This Leadership Brief examines why organizations struggle to](/content/research/lb80919/crypto-agility/index.html)

\ \ May 11, 2026\ \ Model Context Protocol: The API Security Problem Nobody Is Ready For\ \ \ The Model Context Protocol (MCP) has rapidly become the connective tissue of the agentic AI ecosystem, and it is being deployed at enterprise scale without a mature authentication baseline or reliable runtime enforcement. Security has not kept pace with adoption. This Leadership Brief examines MCP](/content/research/lb80918/model-context-protocol/index.html)

\ \ May 15, 2026\ \ Rising Star TechJutsu\ \ \ Contact Center Authentication strengthens voice and agent-assisted channels by replacing vulnerable knowledge-based questions with IdP-backed MFA. TechJutsu’s CallerVerify triggers verification from ITSM, collaboration, and IVR tools using Okta/Auth0 or Microsoft Entra factors. OrgVerify adds](/content/research/rs81153/rising-star-techjutsu/index.html)

\ \ May 11, 2026\ \ Rising Star Bare.ID\ \ \ Bare.ID is a self-funded Wiesbaden IAM vendor (founded 2022) focused on EMEA mid-market needs within Identity Fabrics. Its subscription offering extends Keycloak into a comprehensive package combining Access Management, IGA, and PAM, with strong UI/UX, open-standard APIs, self-service automation,](/content/research/rs81152/rising-star-bare-id/index.html)

\ \ Nov 18, 2025\ \ Rising Star AuthZed\ \ \ AuthZed provides scalable authorization solutions leveraging SpiceDB for global, fine-grained permissions. Supported by $15.8M funding, their cloud products optimize performance and deployment flexibility. With innovative Materialize technology, AuthZed enhances rapid permission checks. Despite](/content/research/rs81131/rising-star-authzed/index.html)

\ \ Mar 18, 2026\ \ ManageEngine PAM360\ \ \ Privileged Access Management (PAM) is a priority in hybrid environments where ransomware risk, misconfigurations, and audit expectations are rising. Buyers need rapid, practical governance that fits existing identity and monitoring ecosystems, but must still verify modernization, extensibility, and](/content/research/pv81149/manageengine-pam360/index.html)

\ \ Jun 03, 2026\ \ From the Floor, Not the Stage: An Advisory View on EIC 2026\ \ \ AI was the headline at EIC 2026, but the real story was the gap between hype and the unfinished plumbing of identity. In hallway conversations and unfiltered case studies, the same theme kept surfacing: teams can’t govern agents they can’t yet govern users, apps, and access. Here’s what surfaced](/content/blog/schuetze/advisory-view-on-eic-2026/index.html)

\ \ Jun 02, 2026\ \ Your AI Agent Has a Supply Chain Problem\ \ \ Learn how MCP can quietly turn agentic AI into a Log4Shell-like dependency blind spot, and how to get ahead of it. You’ll leave with a practical checklist to inventory MCP endpoints, harden provenance and review of manifests/configs, avoid “valid token = safe code” thinking, and add runtime](/content/blog/balaganski/your-ai-agent-has-a-supply-chain-problem/index.html)

\ \ Jun 01, 2026\ \ Securing and Governing AI: Why AI Security Requires a Fabric, not a Category\ \ \ AI isn’t “just another app,” and your security stack can’t pretend it is. Prompts can be poisoned, retrieval can be manipulated, and agents can take actions across systems faster than reviews can keep up. The answer isn’t a new category, it’s a connected fabric of identity, data, policy, runtime](/content/blog/gardiner/securing-and-governing-ai/index.html)

Events

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[See past events\ \

Identity Fabric Impact Day 2026

Identity Fabric Impact Day is a focused, one-day, practice-oriented event for IAM professionals, security leaders, and solution providers seeking hands-on guidance on Identity Fabrics - modular, flexible, and scalable architectures that address identity and access needs across the enterprise. Identity Fabrics enable secure, seamless access for employees, customers, partners, and machines, while improving efficiency, supporting compliance, and strengthening security across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

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AIdentity & Non-Human Identity Impact Day 2026

Join the leading event dedicated to securing and governing non-human identities at scale and learn about AIdentity. Explore how dynamic credentials, automated governance, and Identity Fabric architectures transform how organizations secure workloads, APIs, and services across multi-cloud environments. Connect with experts shaping the future of identity automation, where governance meets agility, and ownership is non-negotiable.

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Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM) Impact Day 2026

This event is dedicated to transforming Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM) into the next era of digital engagement. Explore how EUDI Wallets, verifiable credentials, decentralized identity, and passwordless authentication reshape customer experiences, trust, and digital safety. Connect with identity innovators, security leaders, and business strategists defining how organizations authenticate, protect, and understand their customers in a global, omnichannel world.

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European Identity and Cloud Conference 2027

Join Europe’s leading event on Digital Identity, Security, Privacy, and Governance in an AI-driven world. Connect with a vibrant community and dive into the technologies shaping the future.

To the\ Event [Call for Speakers\ \

European Identity and Cloud Conference 2026

To the\ Event [Agenda Overview\ \

\ \ Sep 09, 2026\ \ Identity Fabric Impact Day 2026\ \ \ Identity Fabric Impact Day is a focused, one-day, practice-oriented event for IAM professionals, security leaders, and solution providers seeking hands-on guidance on Identity Fabrics - modular, flexible, and scalable architectures that address identity and access needs across the enterprise.](/content/events/ifid2026/index.html)

\ \ Oct 06, 2026\ \ AIdentity & Non-Human Identity Impact Day 2026\ \ \ Join the leading event dedicated to securing and governing non-human identities at scale and learn about AIdentity.\ Explore how dynamic credentials, automated governance, and Identity Fabric architectures transform how organizations secure workloads, APIs, and services across multi-cloud](/content/events/nhiid2026/index.html)

\ \ Nov 18, 2026\ \ Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM) Impact Day 2026\ \ \ This event is dedicated to transforming Customer Identity & Access Management (CIAM) into the next era of digital engagement.\ Explore how EUDI Wallets, verifiable credentials, decentralized identity, and passwordless authentication reshape customer experiences, trust, and digital safety. Connect](/content/events/ciamid2026/index.html)

\ \ Jun 16, 2026\ \ Navigating B2B IAM: Leadership Compass Results Revealed\ \ \ As B2B ecosystems grow more complex, managing identities across organizational boundaries has become a strategic priority. In this webinar, KuppingerCole unveils the first results from its Leadership Compass on B2B Identity and Access Management, offering a preview of the Leader chart, key market](/content/events/2026/06/navigating-b2b-iam/index.html)

\ \ Jun 17, 2026\ \ Rethinking Privileged Access\ \ \ Historically, privileged access was associated primarily with human administrators responsible for maintaining servers, networks, and enterprise applications. That model no longer reflects how organizations operate today. This webinar draws on a Leadership Compass covering over 35 vendors to](/content/events/2026/06/rethinking-pam/index.html)

\ \ Jun 24, 2026\ \ Redefining MDR: From Alert Handling to Outcome‑Focused Security Operations\ \ \ Cyber threats continue to target organizations across endpoints, networks, cloud environments, identity systems, and connected devices, while many security teams still struggle with skills shortages, operational complexity, and the challenge of maintaining effective 24x7 monitoring and response. In](/content/events/2026/06/redefining-mdr/index.html)

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\ \ Jun 15, 2026\ \ B2B Identity & Access Management: A New Market Unpacked\ \ \ Business relationships are complex and traditional IAM wasn't built for them. In this episode, Matthias Reinwarth sits down with Principal analyst John Tolbert, author of KuppingerCole Analysts' first-ever B2B IAM Leadership Compass, to explore why Business-to-Business Identity and Access](/content/watch/b2b-iam-new-market-unpacked/index.html)

\ \ Jun 12, 2026\ \ Is Your CDN Secure? CDN vs. DDoS Mitigation Unpacked with Qrator Labs\ \ \ Speed and security are no longer separate concerns. In this videocast, Osman Celik sits down with Andrey Leskin, CTO of Qrator Labs, to break down what Content Delivery Networks really are in 2026 and why they've become a critical piece of modern security infrastructure, not just a performance](/content/watch/videocast-qrator-secure-cdn/index.html)

\ \ Jun 10, 2026\ \ From SAP IDM to Modern IGA: Closing the AD Lifecycle Gap Before 2027\ \ \ SAP Identity Management reaches end of mainstream maintenance in December 2027, and every IGA vendor is offering a replacement. But most migration guidance misses a critical gap: organizations following SAP's recommended path to Microsoft Entra will still lack proper Active Directory lifecycle](/content/watch/sap-idm-to-modern-iga/index.html)

\ \ May 09, 2025\ \ PANEL: The REAL Business Case for Decentralized Identity & EU DI Wallet\ \ \ While the promise of decentralized identity (DID) and the EU Digital Identity Wallet (EUDI Wallet) is often framed in terms of privacy and user control, the real driver for widespread adoption will be compelling business value. This panel will move beyond the hype to examine what truly makes](/content/watch/panel-the-real-business-case-eic25/index.html)

\ \ May 09, 2025\ \ PANEL: Delegation with Boundaries: Ownership, Accountability, and Trust in B2B Federations\ \ \ As digital ecosystems become more interconnected, organizations increasingly rely on federated identity and access models to collaborate across business boundaries. Yet this reliance raises a crucial question: How much control should be retained internally, and how much can be safely delegated to](/content/watch/panel-delegation-with-boundaries-eic25/index.html)

[\ \ May 09, 2025\ \ AI at your Service [Intermediate]\ \ \ Imagine a future where AI seamlessly handles Identity Governance and Administration (IGA) tasks—whether you’re an administrator, a helpdesk agent, or an end user. Instead of navigating complex workflows and esoteric User Interfaces, AI will be at your service, executing tasks through](/content/watch/ai-at-your-service-eic25/index.html)

\ \ Dec 05, 2024\ \ Transforming Ecosystem Partner Security Risk Management: Lessons Learned and Insights for DORA Implementation\ \ \ As organizations face increasing regulatory demands and evolving cyber threats, effective Ecosystem Partner security risk management has become a critical priority. This session will explore a successful transformation journey in Ecosystem Partner security risk management, highlighting the](/content/watch/transforming-ecosystem-partner-security-risk-management-cre24/index.html)

\ \ Dec 05, 2024\ \ In der digitalen Arena: Digitalisierung bei Bayern München - aber sicher](/content/watch/arena-digitalisierung-bayern-munchen-cre24/index.html)

\ \ Dec 05, 2024\ \ Enhancing Cyber Resilience: Integrating Identity Management, Multi-Cloud Strategies, and Advanced Threat Detection](/content/watch/enhancing-cyber-resilience-cre24/index.html)

\ \ Jun 04, 2026\ \ Unified Governance Across SAP and Business Applications\ \ \ As organizations expand beyond SAP into hybrid ecosystems of SaaS and LoB applications, governance becomes fragmented and inconsistent. Traditional access control approaches no longer suffice, requiring a shift toward holistic Business Application Risk Management that leverages integrated](/content/watch/heterogeneous-it/index.html)

\ \ May 28, 2026\ \ Beyond SOAR: The Rise of the AI SOC\ \ \ The AI SOC market is expanding rapidly as security vendors race to deliver security automation systems that help deliver smarter triage, improved investigations, and faster responses. But not every AI claim translates into meaningful operational improvement. \ This webinar examines what is](/content/watch/rise-of-ai-soc/index.html)

\ \ Jun 08, 2026\ \ PAM Is No Longer a Vault: The New Identity Security Layer\ \ \ Privileged Access Management has outgrown the vault. In this episode, Matthias sits down with lead analyst Alejandro Leal, author of KuppingerCole's newly released PAM Leadership Compass, to explore how the definition of privilege itself has changed, what NHIs and agentic AI mean for PAM, and why](/content/watch/pam-no-longer-a-vault/index.html)

\ \ Jun 01, 2026\ \ Know Your Attack Surface: ASM, DRP & Brand Protection\ \ \ Not all cyber threats target your systems, some target your reputation, your customers, and your brand. In this episode, Matthias Reinwarth sits down with research analyst Osman Celik to unpack three closely related but distinct markets: Attack Surface Management (ASM), Digital Risk Protection](/content/watch/know-your-attack-surface/index.html)

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\ \ Exploring Innovation and Collaboration in Identity Management\ \ \ A conversation on innovation, partnership, and the evolving future of identity and access management](/content/success-story-tenfold/index.html)

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EU Digital Identity Wallet: A Catalyst for Business Transformation

\ \ Alejandro Leal](/content/people/leal/index.html)

Alejandro Leal 🤖

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Setting the stage

On February 29, 2024, the European Union (EU) Parliament voted in favor of amendments to the eIDAS regulation, marking a significant milestone on the road to a unified standard for European digital identity services. The regulation, which is expected to enter into force by the end of March upon publication in the Official Journal of the EU, will trigger a series of implementation steps. The countdown begins with a six-month period to finalize the technical specifications of the EU Digital ID Wallet, followed by adjustments based on legal file and experiences in large scale pilots. By 2026, all EU member states are mandated to provide digital wallets to every resident, accessible at no cost for acquisition and usage.

Under the new regulation, citizens and businesses could potentially leverage digital wallets to link various personal attributes securely, including driving licenses, diplomas, and national ID cards. Section 5 of the Architecture Reference Framework lists the current mandatory, optional, and possible additional attributes that are included in the eIDAS framework.

The implementation of eIDAS promises a secure, privacy-friendly means for individuals to prove their identity and electronically sign documents, fostering access to public and private services across the EU. The removal of virtual borders facilitated by eIDAS is anticipated to deepen the Digital Single Market and foster further integration within the EU. However, the true measure of success lies in ensuring that these principles extend beyond the borders of the EU.

Bridging boundaries

Achieving interoperability at various levels is essential, including integration with internal organizational systems and compatibility with other verified identity solutions. To gain widespread adoption, the wallet must provide user-friendliness and work seamlessly across international boundaries. Embracing interoperability as a guiding principle is not merely a matter of compliance but a strategic imperative for organizations aiming to thrive in an increasingly interconnected digital world.

Moreover, digital identity issuance and applicability should not be limited to a single organization or use case. If a user possesses a verified digital identity, they should have the ability to utilize it across various purposes, with diverse service providers spanning different industries, and even with public institutions. Consequently, solutions need to be adaptable and scalable, offering flexibility to accommodate varying levels of assurance for each use case or process, while also being scalable to meet the evolving demands of interoperability and security.

At EIC 2023, several presentations focused on digital identity in the context of eIDAS and the EU Digital Identity Wallet. These included presentations that considered how digital wallets can be used in the private sector in EUDI Wallet - Critical Success factors for Digital Single Market and Private Sector Use; how organizations can take advantage of the latest developments in eIDAS 2.0 & Digital Identity Wallet Readiness: What Your Organization Needs to Know About Digital Identity Wallets; and the potential challenges and use cases in eIDAS 2.0 & EU Digital Identity Wallet.

Maximizing business potential

In my previous blog post, I delved into some of the challenges posed by the eIDAS regulation and the EU Digital ID Wallet. However, in this post, we will shift our focus to explore the potential business advantages. Moving beyond the regulatory landscape, the business implications of digital identities extend far beyond traditional Identity and Access Management (IAM) frameworks. These digital identities serve as enablers for cross-organizational use, offering reusable, decentralized approaches that improve and expand business processes. In addition, as discussed in this Advisory Note, enterprises have already reached a point where centralized identity management is neither desirable nor possible because existing centralized approaches to identity, authentication, interoperability, and security don't fit and won't scale with emerging technologies.

To ensure adoption and integration within enterprises, the following areas will be addressed by the EU Digital Identity Wallet:

Identity Verification (KYC): The EU Wallet will offer robust identity verification capabilities to streamline Know Your Customer (KYC) processes for organizations. By leveraging secure and efficient verification methods, enterprises can enhance the security and reliability of customer identity verification.
Strong User Authentication: Enterprises mandated to implement strong user authentication measures will benefit from the EU Wallet's advanced authentication features.
Integration with Major Platforms: The EU Wallet will support authentication on major online platforms, including social networks, search engines, and e-commerce marketplaces. By enabling interoperability with these gatekeeper platforms, enterprises can ensure widespread acceptance of the EU Wallet among users.

Therefore, as organizations navigate the implications of eIDAS and the EU Digital Identity Wallet, it's imperative to recognize not only the challenges but also the vast array of business opportunities presented. The wallet serves as a central repository for proof of identity and other attributes, streamlining numerous business use cases and offering users unparalleled convenience. In addition, integrating digital wallets with existing IAM systems can streamline onboarding processes for remote workers, saving time and money while increasing security. For partner collaboration, digital identity wallets provide secure access to shared resources and data, promoting trust while ensuring privacy and compliance.

Regardless of their size or industry, enterprises can benefit significantly from adopting digital identity wallet solutions. By embracing these technologies and tailoring their implementation strategies to their specific needs and challenges, businesses can unlock new opportunities for growth, innovation, and user satisfaction in today's digital economy.

Find out what identity, cloud, and security industry experts, thought leaders, practitioners, and peers are thinking and doing by joining us at EIC 2024 taking place in Berlin and online from 4-7 June.  We will be discussing the latest developments and the role that digital identities play in the enterprise space.

Global Impact: How will the EU Digital Identity Wallet affect non-EU residents or businesses operating outside the EU?

The European Digital Identity Wallet should apply to the EU's nearly 450 million residents, but experts say its impact could be felt far beyond that because of the EU's leadership role in creating regulations and policies that serve as a global standard.

Security Concerns: What are the key security challenges, and how does the regulation address them to ensure the protection of user data?

Given that the EU Digital Identity Wallet requires the storage of documents, cryptographic keys, and other sensitive information on mobile platforms, it is vulnerable to various risks, including loss, hardware malfunction, and unauthorized access by hackers and thieves. Protecting the integrity and confidentiality of digital wallet data is critical and requires robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access and ensure controlled access for authorized users. Nevertheless, its legal backing and the EU's commitment to neutrality, security and user privacy sets the EU Digital Identity Wallet apart from corporate digital wallets.