Biometric authentication: what it means for identity governance

TL;DR: Weak or stolen credentials contributed to 81% of breaches in recent security reports, while biometric authentication is gaining traction because users and businesses see it as more secure than passwords and easier to use, according to M2SYS. The governance challenge is not whether biometrics help, but how to handle privacy, fallback paths, and account recovery without recreating weak identity controls.

Editorial analysis by NHI Mgmt Group, based on content published by M2SYS: “Biometric Authentication vs Traditional Authentication: A Business Perspective”.

By the numbers:

• Weak or stolen credentials contributed to 81% of breaches in recent security reports.
• 81% of global consumers view biometric authentication as more secure than traditional methods.
• 72% prefer facial biometrics over passwords for secure online processes.

Key questions

Q: How should organisations use biometrics without weakening authentication?

A: Use biometrics as one factor in a layered authentication design, not as the only gate to sensitive systems.

Q: Why do passwords and PINs keep failing in enterprise identity programmes?

A: They are easy to reuse, phish, intercept, share, or reset through weak recovery flows.

Q: What are the main risks of biometric authentication for security teams?

A: The main risks are poor enrolment, template exposure, sensor spoofing, and insecure fallback handling.

Practitioner guidance

• Audit password recovery paths Map every reset, help desk, and fallback route that can override stronger authentication and remove any path that is easier to abuse than the primary sign-in method.
• Define biometric enrolment and storage rules Require controlled enrolment, template protection, encryption at rest, and clear ownership for biometric data so the control does not become a privacy liability.
• Pair biometrics with phishing-resistant factors Use biometrics as part of a broader authentication design that also includes strong device or cryptographic proof, rather than treating biometrics as a standalone answer.

Bottom line: Weak credentials still account for most breach entry paths, so password-heavy identity models are no longer a defensible assurance baseline.

Explore further

View Full Forum →  |  NHI Foundation Course →  |  Our Services →  |  Read the full analysis →