Most security standards look at the crypto (the locks). ISO 17779 looks at the process (the proof of ownership). It specifies the "metadata" and "evidence" that must accompany a digital identity assertion. If you find the PDF, you will see a lot of flowcharts. But the standard rests on three critical pillars that matter to developers and compliance officers:
This is the standard's crown jewel. It isn't enough to present a certificate. You must provide evidence of recent control. This kills the "session replay attack." If you download a stolen ISO 17779 PDF and try to implement it poorly, you’ll miss the timestamps required for the Evidence of Control. iso 17779 pdf
Here is the hard truth:
If you are a lawyer or compliance officer: It is the only defensible document in court. Most security standards look at the crypto (the locks)
Most systems assume the person holding the device (Principal) is the legal entity (Owner). 17779 forces a split. It requires mechanisms to prove that the current user is authorized to act as the owner, even if they aren't the owner (e.g., a secretary signing for a CEO). If you find the PDF, you will see a lot of flowcharts
If you are a developer or CTO: The value isn't in the paper; it is in the assertion protocols . Focus on building the "Evidence of Control" payload and ensuring your cryptographic keys are hardware-backed (TPM/Secure Enclave).