Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM)

ICAM-related icons in a lightbulb shape.

As communications and information sharing technologies advance, the public safety community faces an increasing amount of Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) challenges. Recognizing the importance of ICAM solutions in emergency response, SAFECOM and NCSWIC established a joint working group to provide the public safety community with leadership, education, and guidance on ICAM. The ICAM Working Group populates this section of the SAFECOM website with working group products and additional ICAM resources.

Introduction to ICAM

Public safety requires innovative techniques to manage information sharing risks between operational partners. ICAM is an important cybersecurity domain that allows agencies to securely access resources across existing systems and emerging platforms. With ICAM, agencies can ensure that the right person with the right privileges can access the right information at the right time. These resources introduce ICAM and its value to public safety.

ICAM 101 Briefing for Public Safety Officials (.pdf, 761 KB)
The briefing is a two-page high-level ICAM overview for public safety officials and decision-makers.

ICAM Pilot for Public Safety Fact Sheet (.pdf, 521 KB)
An overview of ICAM and high-level findings from two ICAM pilot demonstrations held in 2019. This document intends to educate program managers, public safety officials, technologists, and others interested in federated ICAM and its potential application to public safety users.

ICAM Reference Guide (.pdf, 504.82 KB)
The ICAM Reference Guide is a collection of resources and information on core principles and critical components related to ICAM, the Trustmark Framework, and other federal and government sponsored ICAM initiatives. The Reference Guide will be updated periodically with pertinent information, resources, and emerging ICAM trends.

Highlighted Resources:
ICAM Value Proposition Suite

This suite of five (5) documents introduces ICAM concepts, explores federated ICAM use-cases, and highlights their potential benefits for the public safety community.

ICAM Value Proposition Overview

Ambulance, fire truck, and ICAM icon.

This document provides a high-level summary of federated ICAM benefits and introduces domain-specific scenarios covered by other documents in the suite.

DOWNLOAD (.PDF, 602.79 KB)

ICAM Value Proposition Scenario: Hurricane Response

Responder surveying hurricane damage from a helicopter with hurricane icon.

This document presents federated ICAM use cases and potential benefits for disaster response operations such as hurricanes.

DOWNLOAD (.PDF, 505.1 KB)

ICAM Value Proposition Scenario: Drug Response

Ambulance driving with needle icon.

This document outlines federated ICAM use cases and information sharing benefits for large-scale drug overdose epidemic (e.g., opioid, methamphetamine, and cocaine) prevention and response.

DOWNLOAD (.PDF, 505.1 KB)

ICAM Value Proposition Scenario: School Shooting Response

Back of police officer with police car in background and school icon.

This document provides federated ICAM use cases and information sharing benefits for an active shooter scenario (e.g., school shooting).

DOWNLOAD (.PDF, 491.44 KB)

ICAM Value Proposition Scenario: Bombing Response

Police car with police in background and a bomb icon

This document illustrates information sharing benefits observed from the March 2018 Austin serial bombings.

DOWNLOAD (.PDF, 441.91 KB)

Trustmark Framework

The Trustmark Framework is a means to achieve interoperability between various identity federations without requiring explicit, written bilateral agreements. Currently in use by several law enforcement organizations, the Trustmark Framework establishes a mechanism for codifying and reusing components of different ICAM solutions in an attempt to achieve greater adaptability, interoperability, and cost savings. 

Endorsing the Trustmark Framework Position Paper (.pdf, 706.04 KB)
This paper encourages the public safety community to leverage and adopt the Trustmark Framework in effort to achieve a federated ICAM solution.

Trustmark Framework for Public Safety Tri-fold Brochure

The brochure provides background and supplemental information on the Trustmark Framework.

Additional Resources

For more resources visit SAFECOM ResourcesSAFECOM Technology, or the SAFECOM homepage.