Page 12 - Cyber Warnings

WHY BIOMETRICS IS A SECURITY ESSENTIAL AND SO IS

DISABLING IT ASAP

By Doug Ramos, Security Practice Manager, Groupware Technology

Today user identity is the number one concern when securing a corporate network. With
malware and hacks being focused on stealing identities, it is the most critical point of security to
lock down.

Companies are requiring stronger and more complex passwords but is that enough? Some
companies are adding two factor authentication with the use of one time passwords.

With the recent breach of a cloud based identity management company even that is not good
enough.

The use of biometric authentication measures such as finger scans or iris/voice recognition may
offer better security for access control in the workplace than passwords, swipe cards, door
codes, PINs and other conventional workplace security implementations, since they can’t be
stolen, forgotten, etc.

The cost of biometric technology has also dropped significantly to enable this category to
become a very cost-effective solution.

And with advancements in accuracy, size and form, biometrics are becoming a more common
means of two-factor authentication, especially as the need for a more secure form of secondary
authentication is on the rise.

Two-factor authentication is the use of something else besides just a username and password
to identify yourself in the workplace.

Organizations are increasingly adopting secondary authentication as a means of providing an
extra level of security that has become a necessity in workplaces now more vulnerable to
sophisticated data breaches.

Breaches are no longer just a mere isolated technology concern. They have become priority for
all businesses to proactively prevent before they happen.

However, most business breaches do not happen not because of disingenuous cyberthieves
cunningly coming with up with all manners of security terrorism and threats. Lost or stolen
employee credentials are the most common causes for organizational data breaches.

12 Cyber Warnings E-Magazine – June 2017 Edition
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