Companies turn to biometrics to fight data breach threats

U.S. organizations have begun deploying biometric authentication technology to prepare against the latest security threats, according to a new report from research firm Vanson Bourne.

The research firm, which conducted its study on behalf of Veridium, a provider of authentication technology, surveyed 200 U.S. senior IT decision-makers, and nearly two-thirds (63 percent) of those whose organizations had experienced a data breach said they are using or planning to use biometric authentication to prevent other attacks.

A majority of the survey respondents, or 81 percent, believed biometric authentication secures their organizations' data better than the use of passwords alone.

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A customer uses a Sagem Digiproof fingerprint scanner to pay for items at a Real store, owned by Metro AG, in Toenisvorst, Germany, on Friday, Feb. 12, 2010. Photographer: Wolfgang von Brauchitsch/Bloomberg

The study found that organizations continue to be targets for attackers, with more than half, or 53 percent, of the respondents saying their organization had experienced a data breach within the last five years.

Also see: Biometrics on the rise as insurers look for smoother experience

The impending deadline for the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), which is designed to provide data privacy for European Union EU citizens, is a top consideration in security strategies, with 89 percent of the respondents saying the deadline is affecting how they manage and secure EU citizens' data.

Nearly all of the respondents, or 99 percent, said their organizations are using passwords for secure access, yet only 34 percent are “very confident” that passwords alone can provide enough data protection.

This story originally appeared in Information Management.
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Biometrics Cyber security Data breaches Cyber attacks Malware
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