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Why should enterprises consider investing in and deploying biometric authentication capabilities? What IAM<\/a> problems can biometric authentication capabilities solve? Moreover, can enterprises trust this new identity security technology in their cybersecurity policies? <\/span><\/p>\n Of all the branches of identity and access management, biometric authentication is comparatively young. Enterprises and users alike continue to adjust to this new technology, slowly learning to trust it<\/a>. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Yet next-gen identity solution providers strive to refine and to innovate their biometric authentication capabilities; they aggressively assert their place as part of enterprises\u2019 identity security platforms. In fact, biometric authentication capabilities can help solve several problems facing enterprises\u2019 identity and access management policies and platforms. <\/span><\/p>\n To put it another way, biometric authentication capabilities can help your enterprises bridge gaps you didn\u2019t know existed. Here\u2019s how: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n As the name suggests, biometric authentication solutions solve problems. Primarily, they solve issues inherent in traditional enterprises\u2019 identity and access management<\/a> policies, particularly authentication. However, they also guard against particular threats and provide the necessary convenience options. <\/span><\/p>\n Here are some key problems in traditional IAM: \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Passwords once ruled the roost in identity security. Early experts considered them a balanced tool for cybersecurity and convenience. Time, however, has proven otherwise. <\/span><\/p>\n Hackers now have the tools and the experience to guess or crack most users\u2019 passwords. In some cases, threat actors can simply input entries in the list of the worst passwords until they get a match. In other attacks, they can exploit previously breached passwords in credential stuffing attacks, spamming login portals until they succeed. <\/span><\/p>\n Additionally, users often must memorize dozens if not hundreds of passwords\u2014putting a great deal of stress on them. Often, they instead reuse the same password for multiple accounts, putting all of those accounts at risk. They may also write down their passwords or share them through unsecured channels, increasing the risk of insider threats. <\/span><\/p>\n Above all, if your enterprise uses a single-factor authentication protocol, hackers can eventually brute-force their way through to your network. Even if you follow password security best practices, it remains a perilously thin security layer.<\/span><\/p>\n Biometrics, on the other hand, offers a far more secure alternative to passwords. Hackers don\u2019t yet have the technology to fake biometrics or to steal them. Additionally, hackers can\u2019t use credential stuffing attacks with biometric readers; such would be impossible. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Moreover, users can\u2019t forget their biometric factors (they\u2019re literally attached to them), which allows them to enjoy faster logins without fear of forgetting the authentication credentials. This saves both them and your Help Desk time otherwise spent on password recovery.<\/span><\/p>\n Don\u2019t get us wrong: endpoint security remains an absolutely essential component to supporting the digital perimeter. Their firewalls and next-gen anti-malware deter inexperienced hackers and block file-based and fileless attacks from penetrating the network. <\/span><\/p>\n However, the evolving nature of cyber attacks makes securing identities more necessary than ever. For example, hackers employ phishing tactics to trick users into handing over their credentials; with these in hand, hackers can bypass your firewall and steal your sensitive data. Every identity serves as a node in your digital perimeter, and thus a new attack vector needing protection. <\/span><\/p>\n Biometric authentication capabilities add a layer to your digital perimeter which traditional identity and access management can\u2019t provide. They provide a verification tool which hackers can\u2019t phish, and which helps ensure only the right users access the right databases. <\/span><\/p>\n Of course, this works best when paired with privileged access management (PAM<\/a>) and identity and access governance (IGA<\/a>); the latter especially ensures users don\u2019t have access to databases outside their job descriptions, limiting the damage threats actors can inflict with their credentials. \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n We strongly believe multifactor authentication (MFA<\/a>) should become enterprises\u2019 go-to authentication policy. While not impervious to threat actors\u2014no cybersecurity solution can prevent 100% of threats\u2014it can deflect all but the most dedicated and experienced hackers and insider threats. Additionally, MFA can enable step-up authentication, which only requires more authentication factors as the sensitivity of access requests increases. <\/span><\/p>\n However, enterprises must also balance security with convenience to enjoy widespread adoption by their users. To achieve this, they instead deploy two-factor authentication via their IAM solution. <\/span><\/p>\n Two-factor authentication does exactly what its name suggests; instead of a single-factor authentication policy, it adds a second layer to the process\u2014taking some of the burdens off passwords. <\/span><\/p>\n These second factors can vary, but often they involve an SMS messaging system via mobile device or email account seeking to confirm the access request. Unfortunately, hackers can now subvert these SMS messaging systems by sending a false message which enables them to bypass the identity security process. <\/span><\/p>\n Contrastly, biometric authentication capabilities provide much more secure and consistent secondary authentication factors which hackers can\u2019t trick or bypass. By removing the need for an SMS message, hackers can only penetrate your network through direct interference with your physical endpoints\u2014a tall order for any threat actor. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Retail and consumer-facing enterprises alike face a completely different set of identity security challenges. Not only must they secure their employees and third-parties<\/a>, but they must also secure their consumers\u2019 credentials. <\/span><\/p>\n\t\t\t![\"Download](\"https:\/\/solutionsreview.com\/identity-management\/files\/2019\/01\/biometric-authentication-speedbump-cta.jpg\" "\\"Biometric")
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div><\/div><\/p>\nThe Benefits of Biometric Authentication Capabilities<\/b><\/h2>\n
Problem #1: Passwords Are Inadequate<\/b><\/h3>\n
Problem #2: Identity is the New Perimeter<\/b><\/h3>\n
Problem #3: Two-Factor Authentication Isn\u2019t Enough<\/b><\/h3>\n
Problem #4: The Demand for Consumer Convenience<\/b><\/h3>\n