As more and more organisations are considering scrapping traditional usernames and passwords in return for biometrics for authentication, a recent PwC white paper has evaluated the privacy implications and the benefits of implementing such software.

Making data storage more secure

“Biometric authentication and verification can be one of the most secure ways to control access to restricted systems and information,” said Stewart Room, partner at PwC Legal. “Unlike authentication based on traditional passwords, authentication through biometric data is easier to use in practice, and can be far more secure.”

Although there are implications that come with introducing any new software into a business, and one implication is that “biometric data is extremely sensitive due to its uniqueness and how intrinsic it is to a specific individual,” so extra efforts must be made in order to keep the data secure, such as choosing a proper compliance system and infrastructure, along with training staff thoroughly on how to handle it and how to protect it from unauthorised access.

Another pitfall that comes into play when using biometrics, is the increased chance of large data loss and significant privacy concerns, but if used right, biometrics could certainly see the future of data storage and protection strengthen significantly.

Adapted from a press release by Jordan Platt