Biometrics is the use of measurable physical or behavioral characteristics to identify individuals or verify their identities. Examples include fingerprints, facial features, voice patterns, and typing behavior. Biometrics is used in applications such as access control and secure authentication.

How does biometric authentication work?

Biometric authentication captures a characteristic, such as a fingerprint or facial feature, and compares it with stored biometric reference data. If the comparison produces a sufficiently close match, the user may be granted access. Security depends on the system's design, the use of additional authentication factors, and how biometric information is protected.

Do biometric systems store images of you?

It depends on the solution. Many biometric systems store mathematical representations of biometric characteristics, known as biometric templates, rather than original images. Other solutions may also retain images. This information can be stored locally on a user's device or in centralized systems. Regardless of the storage method, biometric data requires protection against unauthorized access and misuse.

Is biometric authentication secure?

Biometric authentication can provide strong security, especially when combined with a protected device and additional security measures. However, biometrics is not foolproof. Fingerprints and facial features can be targeted by spoofing attempts, and the level of protection varies between solutions. Organizations should assess the entire authentication process rather than assume biometrics alone provides sufficient protection.

How do privacy regulations like GDPR affect the use of biometrics?

Biometric data is personal data when it relates to an identifiable individual. Organizations must therefore have a valid legal basis for processing and comply with relevant privacy requirements. When biometric data is processed for the purpose of uniquely identifying a person, additional conditions under GDPR Article 9 apply. Organizations must also consider purpose, necessity, data minimization, and secure storage.

What is the difference between biometric identification and verification?

Biometric identification determines who a person is, often by comparing their biometric characteristics against multiple registered identities. Biometric verification checks whether someone is who they claim to be. Unlocking a smartphone with a fingerprint is an example of biometric verification.

How is biometrics used in passwordless authentication?

Biometrics can verify a user's identity without requiring them to enter a traditional password. In solutions such as Windows Hello for Business, fingerprints or facial recognition are used to activate a secure authentication mechanism on the device. Authentication can then rely on protected cryptographic keys instead of passwords.

Sicra helps organizations strengthen authentication and identity and access management. This includes assessing security risks, selecting appropriate security controls, and planning solutions where biometrics can form part of secure authentication. Sicra also provides security architecture services and maturity assessments to help organizations prioritize improvements.

Biometrics

What is biometrics?

Biometrics involves recognizing individuals through measurable physical or behavioral characteristics. These may include fingerprints, facial features, voice patterns, or the way a person types.

Biometric identification is used to determine who someone is, while biometric verification checks whether they are who they claim to be. Unlocking a device with a fingerprint or facial recognition is an example of verification.

Biometrics can make signing in easier and can be used in passwordless solutions. However, security depends on how the technology is combined with other safeguards and how the system is designed.

Many biometric systems store mathematical representations of biometric characteristics, known as biometric templates, rather than original images. These may be stored on a user's device or in other systems, and some solutions may also retain images. Both templates and images require protection against unauthorized access, misuse, and attempts at reconstruction.

Sicra and biometrics

Sicra helps organizations implement biometric solutions as part of secure authentication and passwordless sign-in. This can include technologies such as Windows Hello, fingerprint readers, and facial recognition. Sicra supports secure implementation and helps organizations meet applicable privacy requirements, including GDPR.

Sicra also helps organizations assess the security of biometric solutions, reduce the risk of spoofing and other attacks, and provide users with appropriate training. The goal is to make authentication both secure and simple.

Services

SASE readiness assessment

SASE architecture

SASE transformation

Relaterte ord: Authentication, Passwordless, Windows Hello for Business, FIDO2, Zero Trust, Phishing, Entra ID, Multi-factor authentication (MFA).

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