With the digital era booming every day, cybersecurity has become an even larger business concern. Besides the usual online ranking competition and changing search engine policies, brands have to operate with a constant fear of hackers and scammers. Despite the tech companies’ multiple attempts to develop robust identity authentication, criminals still find a way to breach these systems.
One of the latest advancements in ID authentication is passwordless login. As its name implies, this method allows users to log in to a device system without needing a password or other knowledge-based authentication.
Passwordless login technology typically works by verifying a user’s identity through biometric authentication. This security process relies on the individual’s physical characteristics, such as fingerprint or facial recognition. Certain biometric standards, such as FIDO2, do not store user credentials on a server and employ unique cryptographic login. Hence, it is known to be a safer and more secure authentication method.
Many consider passwordless login as the solution to a more secure and robust verification system. But despite the cybersecurity improvements, fraudsters have also been diligent in finding ways to breach systems. In response, companies must be aware of the cyber security themes.
One of the security themes this year is the human vulnerability of digital systems. No matter how solid the verification process is if businesses are not cautious, their system is still susceptible to cyberattacks. Sending out suspicious links is one of the most common ways criminals can hack into a system or account. Employees or vendors are frequently the ones that fall victim to this criminal tactic.
Another security theme to keep in mind is the biometrics technology itself. While it is relatively more secure than passwords, biometrics still have risks. Biometric verification systems often keep a record of the user’s characteristics. If an unauthorized person gets a hold of someone’s biometric information, a privacy breach is most likely to occur. Because biometric features cannot be changed, stolen biometric data can completely compromise a user’s security.
The tech industry must also implement ethics in biometric technology. They must be certain that their consumers have explicitly consented to use their biometric data. In addition, businesses must also accept the principle of openness, which means their biometric technology should be inclusive regardless of race, gender, skin tone, or other characteristics. After all, biometric technology aims to create a safer and more solid user verification system.
Zero Trust is another security theme and strategic approach for cybersecurity awareness. It is a security framework requiring all users, whether in or out of the organization’s network, to be authenticated. Everyone who holds an account must continuously be validated for security purposes.
In 2022, the White House issued an Executive Order stating that the federal government would pursue a Zero Trust strategy. Following this, many industries, such as financial services, healthcare, and education, have also imposed Zero Trust in their systems.
These are just a few examples of the cybersecurity themes organizations must keep in mind. More details regarding these can be found in this article by authID.