Five Benefits of Implementing Biometric Authentication in Cybersecurity

Summary

Cyberattacks and data breaches pose significant risks to exposed companies and individuals worldwide. Adopting a new cybersecurity solution like biometric authentication can provide peace of mind to users with improved functions and security features.
 

How biometric authentication transforms cybersecurity

Biometric authentication is a step toward improving cybersecurity for everyone using the technology. Companies from all industries, private individuals and government institutions can protect their data and sensitive information using biometric authentication technology. Here are several types in use today.

• Facial recognition: From phones and laptops to cars and smart access locks, many modern devices use facial recognition to verify the user's identity. This technology uses algorithms to map, analyze and authenticate people's unique facial features to allow or deny access to specific devices and functions.
• Fingerprint scanning: Fingerprint scanners analyze the unique ridge patterns and points in a person's fingerprint. They have become a commonplace authentication feature in mobile phones and laptops, building security systems and services like online banking and mobile applications.
• Voice recognition: Besides using simple keywords to verify a user's identity, voice recognition technology analyzes pitch, tone, and cadence to improve device and system security. Authorized users can issue commands and gain secure access to voice-controlled systems where other authentication methods may be impractical.
• Eye scanning: Eye scanners used to be the stuff of science-fiction novels and movies, but they have real-world cybersecurity applications. Iris or retinal scanners are accurate biometric authentication technologies that analyze a person's eye color and patterns and compare them to a secure database sample.
• Behavioral recognition: Biometric authentication is becoming more advanced as new technologies emerge. Behavioral recognition monitors and analyzes individual usage patterns like typing speed, mouse movements and more to verify the user's identity in real time. It's a developing technology that elevates security in critical systems and networks, significantly reducing the risks of fraudulent activity and unauthorized access.

Benefits of biometric authentication

Zero-trust architecture dictates that no user or device should be automatically trusted when they enter a secure system or network. The simple premise of never trusting an entity outright helps reduce the chances of threat actors stealing valuable private information and data. Industries worldwide see this cybersecurity technology's potential so much that it is expected to grow into a $60 billion industry by 2027.

Biometric authentication is a logical solution to improving zero-trust principles by requiring users and devices to verify their identity constantly. Biometrics technology is evolving and benefits individuals and organizations in today's digital age. Here are several of those plusses.

1. Smoother user experience
A good user experience (UX) design aims to make processes as frictionless as possible for users, whether for apps, interfaces or product design. UX also extends to cybersecurity technology. Biometric authentication makes it easier for users to log into their accounts and work systems without remembering passwords and security keys. Biometrics can help people prioritize cybersecurity by making the authentication process seamless, convenient and practical.

2. Less reliance on passwords
Threat actors always seek access to systems and networks by compromising traditional user credentials like passwords. A 2023 Verizon report found that almost 75% of data breaches involved human error, misuse, social engineering attacks and stolen credentials. Biometric authentication technology aims to move away from passwords to strengthen cybersecurity across industries.

3. Strengthens cybersecurity
Biometric authentication technology is challenging to fool, even for highly skilled threat actors. Unlike passwords and security keys that can be stolen, unique facial features, fingerprints, eye patterns and voice qualities are nearly impossible to fake. Biometric authentication adds another layer to cybersecurity that helps prevent malicious third parties from accessing secure systems.

4. Wide application
Biometric authentication is a scalable cybersecurity solution for companies across many industries. Every mobile app, software program and security system can incorporate biometrics to improve user identity verification. Some popular applications of biometric authentication include the following:

• Employee access control for secure work systems
• Customer identification for online banking
• Time tracking and attendance checking within an organization
• Fraud prevention and detection

5. Cost-effective cybersecurity solution
Biometric authentication is a sizable investment for companies, especially concerning infrastructure and equipment. However, new technologies provide opportunities for more cost-effective cybersecurity solutions like software capable of verifying biometric data.

Organizations can use cameras and scanners from existing devices with biometric software to deploy a large-scale cybersecurity solution for employee use. In addition, the cost of adopting biometric security is still significantly lower than the average data breach cost of $4.45 million per incident.
 

Biometric authentication: A must-have cybersecurity solution

Biometric authentication has undeniable benefits in the cybersecurity world. Companies must invest in reliable technology to safeguard their business and clients' interests, and biometrics is an ideal solution.

_{This feature originally appeared on the ISA Global Cybersecurity Alliance blog.}