LinkedIn introduces a free verified badge to confirm your workplace

More than 4,000 companies can now use LinkedIn's new verification system, which includes support for CLEAR, Microsoft Entra, and work email verification.

LinkedIn, which is owned by Microsoft, is introducing a new free verification system that enables users to verify their identity and place of work. The verification options include using CLEAR for identity verification, verifying your workplace through an email address, or obtaining digital workplace IDs for free using Microsoft's Entra verified ID platform.

Unlike other social media platforms such as Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, LinkedIn users will not have to pay for verifications to be displayed on their profiles. If your organization already uses Entra, you can verify your workplace by using a company-issued email address.

For users who want to verify their identity, LinkedIn has partnered with CLEAR to allow for secure identity confirmation. If you use CLEAR, you can display the verified status of your identity on your LinkedIn profile using a US government-issued ID and US phone number. LinkedIn will indicate verifications with a green and blue check on profiles, but it won't offer a badge next to your name throughout LinkedIn.

Verification via company email is available to all LinkedIn users who work for over 4,000 supported companies. Microsoft Entra verification will be available to 2 million LinkedIn members starting at the end of April.

With the increasing use of cloud technology and remote hiring, online credential verification is becoming increasingly important. Microsoft's Entra Verified ID system, which is now being used by LinkedIn, is based on open standards and can be used across various HR and identity systems.

According to Alex Weinert, vice president of identity security at Microsoft, authenticity online has never been more crucial due to an uptick in fraudulent presentations. The need for trustworthy identity verification is clear when interacting with individuals who claim to be employed by or represent a particular company.

Microsoft Entra's digital verified IDs go beyond LinkedIn and can be used for background checks, loan applications, and rewards programs. The system aims to simplify onboarding into new jobs by allowing users to verify their skills and qualifications across multiple jobs and companies to avoid rigorous security checks when starting a new job. Microsoft aims to expand this type of system to more places that require verification and trust.