Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments relate to a method and related network node including one or more of the following: receiving a message; determining whether the network device should identify an entity associated with the message using a plurality of entity records, wherein each entity record of the plurality of entity records corresponds to an entity; if the network device should identify an entity associated with the message using the plurality of entity records: extracting at least one identification value; identifying a set of entity records as matching the at least one identification value; determining whether the set of entity records includes more than one entity record; and if the set of entity records includes more than one entity record: identifying a most current entity record that has been most recently modified, and processing the message as being associated with the entity to which the most current entity record corresponds.