An identity vectoring method is accomplished by matching a distinguished name or partial distinguished name from a digital certificate with a distinguished name mapping record. A data field in the distinguished name mapping record includes either a variable name or a user ID. The variable name corresponds to any environmental factor. The next mapping record to be considered, the criteria mapping record, is determined by substituting the environmental factor for the variable name in the data field. A data field in the criteria mapping record includes either a variable name or a user ID. The process completes when a mapping record containing only a user ID is encountered or when no matching criteria mapping records are found.