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Biometrics vs passwords: passwords - a weak link in an organisation's IT security

People tend to use short and easy-to-­remember passwords as they do not wish to be troubled each time they gain access to a system.

Biometric technology uses one or more physical identifiers to determine the individual's identification. This may be a fingerprint, iris or retina scan, hand size, vein scan, signature, voice, 2D or 3D face.

With biometrics, a biometric feature (face, finger, voice etc) is securely stored by the software and/or hardware during an enrolment stage. Once the user requires access to the system, a verification stage begins. In this stage, the individual who is present has his/her biometric identifiers compared against what is already stored on the database. If verified correctly, the user gains access to the system. There is no need to remember a long password by memory or to write it down, where it could be compromised.

People tend to be very trusting with passwords, either deliberately or by error. Passwords are then disclosed to unauthorised users. At other times, a password may be compromised by someone watching the user enter it into the system. With biometrics, there is no chance of this happening. The authorised user needs to be in place at that time to gain access to that system.

Another common habit is the use of the same password for several applications. In this scenario, if a non-authorised user gains access to an individual's password and the password is the same, all applications are open to him. With biometrics, each application will have the same level of security without the need for lengthy password lists.

Standard passwords require changing on a regular basis such as when users forget a password, a staff member leaves the organisation or simply as a security routine. These all lead to an increased load on the organisation's IT support. This also decreases the staff member's productivity and/or customer service, as he/she cannot gain access to their work. With biometrics, once the user is properly enrolled his biometric template will remain on the system until he/she leaves the organisation.

With traditional password-enabled systems, the IT administrator has no real proof of who accessed the system. The authorised user can argue that his password had been lost or compromised by an outsider. With biometrics, one has solid proof of the person's presence during access.

For those complaining of the cost, the financial benefits of biometrics far outweigh any of the initial or future costs involved in procuring hardware and/or software licensing.

Software and hardware biometric products are now available that can be integrated into almost any existing or new software application. With these, customers can easily replace standard password access control with biometric hardware and software.

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