Self-Sovereign Identity as a Secure and Trustworthy Approach to Digital Identity Management: A Comprehensive Survey

The digital landscape increasingly relies on data exchange, underscoring the importance of Digital Identity Management (DIM) systems. However, current models face vulnerabilities, leading to the demand for more secure, decentralized, and user-centric solutions. Self-sovereign Identity (SSI) has emerged as a promising paradigm supported by blockchain technology, granting users control over their digital identities. This article reviews existing research and commercial SSI solutions, assessing their feasibility and effectiveness. We thoroughly explore SSI’s concept, structure, and components while addressing challenges like scalability, usability, Quantum computing-based attacks and corresponding resistance mechanisms, data storage, and governance. Additionally, we highlight recent advancements and identify research gaps, suggesting future directions for enhanced DIM solutions.