Patent attributes
Aspects of the disclosure include a method and associated network device. The method includes authenticating an identity of a user of a client device after the client device is associated with an access network provider. Authenticating the identity of the user comprises receiving, from an identity provider, a credential associated with the identity, and receiving, from the identity provider, information identifying a network-based service to be applied to network traffic with the client device. The method further includes establishing, using the credential and the received information, a secure connection between the access network provider and a service provider that is capable of providing the network-based service. The method further includes receiving network traffic from the service provider. Packets of the network traffic include an assurance value that enables the client device to determine that the network-based service is being provided by the service provider.