ISO/IEC 9798-1:2010 specifies an authentication model and general requirements and constraints for entity authentication mechanisms which use security techniques. These mechanisms are used to corroborate that an entity is the one that is claimed. An entity to be authenticated proves its identity by showing its knowledge of a secret. The mechanisms are defined as exchanges of information between entities and, where required, exchanges with a trusted third party.

The details of the mechanisms and the contents of the authentication exchanges are given in subsequent parts of ISO/IEC 9798.