As technology continues to advance, so do the methods used by cybercriminals to gain access to sensitive information. Biometric authentication is a cutting-edge approach to cybersecurity that uses unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints or facial recognition, to verify a user's identity.  

Nearly 90% of companies consider biometric authentication effective for data stored on-premises or in a public cloud. After all, a single fingerprint scan gives you over 98% accuracy; with four fingers, that number climbs to 99.99%. 

• 245M Americans use biometric technology on their smartphones. 
• Fingerprint scanning is the most prominent biometric technology, with 70% of Americans using it. 
• Current revenue: biometrics technologies’ revenue in 2022 was $43B. 

Learn how biometrics can help protect your information from cyber attacks.

What is biometric authentication? 

Is a security process that uses unique physical characteristics, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans, to verify a user's identity. This method of authentication is becoming increasingly popular as it is more secure than traditional password-based authentication. Biometric authentication can help prevent cyber attacks by ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive information. 

How does biometric authentication improve cybersecurity? 

Providing a more secure and reliable method of verifying a user's identity. Unlike traditional password-based authentication, biometric authentication uses unique physical characteristics that cannot be easily replicated or stolen. This makes it much more difficult for hackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information. Additionally, biometric authentication can help prevent insider threats by ensuring that only authorized users have access to sensitive data. Overall, biometric authentication is a powerful tool for strengthening cybersecurity and protecting against cyber attacks. 

Types of biometric authentication. 

There are several types of authentication that can be used to strengthen cybersecurity. These include fingerprint recognition, facial recognition, iris recognition, voice recognition, and even behavioral biometrics such as typing patterns and mouse movements. Each type of biometric authentication has its own strengths and weaknesses, and the best approach will depend on the specific needs of the organization. However, by incorporating this type of authentication into their cybersecurity strategy, organizations can significantly reduce the risk of cyber attacks and protect their sensitive information.

• Of 307M smartphone users in the US, ~245M utilize biometrics. 
• People who’ve tried fingerprint recognition are more likely to use facial recognition in the future. 

Advantages and disadvantages of biometric authentication. 

While offers many advantages in terms of cybersecurity, there are also some potential disadvantages to consider. One disadvantage is the cost of implementing biometric systems, which can be higher than traditional password-based systems. Additionally, biometric data can be sensitive and may raise privacy concerns. There is also the risk of false positives or false negatives, where the system incorrectly identifies or fails to identify an individual. However, with proper planning and implementation, the benefits of biometric authentication can outweigh these potential drawbacks.

• 57% of experts think the legislation is too relaxed regarding the commercial use of biometrics. 
• 59% of Americans accept law enforcement’s use of biometric systems in situations of public threat.

But surveillance is what people fear the most:

FEARS ASSOCIATED WITH BIOMETRIC TECHRESPONDENTS WHO SHARE THEMMass surveillance 73% Misidentification 59% Demographic differentials/bias 56% 

Future of biometric authentication in cybersecurity. 

Biometric authentication is quickly becoming the future of cybersecurity. As technology continues to advance, biometric systems are becoming more accurate, reliable, and cost-effective. In fact, it is predicted that by 2025, the global biometric market will be worth over $59 billion. With the increasing threat of cyber attacks, biometric authentication offers a strong defense against hackers and cyber criminals. As more companies and organizations adopt biometric systems, we can expect to see a significant reduction in cyber attacks and a safer online environment for all. 

• 50% of experts believe face recognition will significantly increase biometric tech use cases over the next five years. 
• 30% of biometric experts think the digital identity sector will use biometric technologies the most in the next five years.  
• 15% of professionals point to artificial intelligence as the primary use case of biometrics, followed by border control (7%) and surveillance(6%).

Source: https://www.biometricsinstitute.org/what-is-biometrics/industry-tracker-survey/