Nancy Ebert

• This master thesis deals with the field of decentralized identification, using the example of the Microsoft Identity Overlay Network (ION). In the introduction, basic terms such as identity and identification are described. A special emphasis is placed on the explaining of the principle of decentralized identifiers (DIDs) and the SSI concept. ION is an implementation of the Sidetree protocol and uses its core components. This is the reason why more details and special parts of Sidetree are described in the methods chapter. Afterwards the ION history and network topology is typify more in detail. An ION node will be installed and operated on top of the Bitcoin blockchain. The installation process and the problems that arise are recorded. Then the ION tools (a programming library and its values) will be explained and the example program code is shown. As a practical addition of the ION tools, a verifiable credential solution is scripted. This solution shows the creation of ION-DID and the signature options of these identifiers. In the results chapter the knowledge acquired via the decentralized identification is evaluated. A theoretical security analysis for ION is implemented. Furthermore, a list of the currently possible uses for the network is enumerated. A discussion is initiated that compares the advantages and disadvantages of ION. The thesis ends with a conclusion and an outlook for ION and decentralized identification.