Law firms and other professional communities are increasingly accepting the use of biometrics for security purposes. Biometrics have undeniable advantages. If you’re like most people, you have to remember a dozen or so passwords just to get into your regular online accounts. There is proprietary software available to synchronize your accounts, but there is still some effort required.
A growing number of banks have recently implemented biometric technology to protect customer accounts. Is this the long-awaited security panacea for law firms? Perhaps, but we remain skeptical.
In the Age of Data Breach, Mobile Biometrics
A few banks have already integrated fingerprint access technology into their mobile apps. This technology is now used by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, and Wells Fargo. Retinal scans and voice recognition software are two examples of advanced biometric technology.
Password security appears to be old hat in the age of data breaches, according to many businesses. There are even whispers that using a password to protect sensitive information may be considered negligent. And, now that mobile devices enable businesses to accurately and conveniently scan biometrics from their customers, it is time to start replacing traditional passwords with biometrics to avoid crime. At the very least, the sentiment has shifted towards using both passwords and biometrics, which would have been prohibitively expensive to implement in the past. However, it may soon become an industry standard.
Is It Still Hackable?
Banks, according to industry executives, do not store people’s fingerprints, but rather algorithms derived from fingerprints and other biometrics. This information will be stored in an FBI-style data bank. Doesn’t that give you a boost of confidence?
Security firms appear to have learned their lesson and made biometric access a little more complicated than a simple scan. Before being granted access, this scanning program requires the user to follow visual prompts. That’s a clever little trick. The issue, of course, is that security is a constant battle between thieves and regular people… and thieves are extremely intelligent. Some sources claim that cybercrime is now more profitable than the drug trade. And with that much money at stake, you can bet that enterprising crooks will find a way to outwit even biometrics users.
Even with the best security technology in place, law firms are likely to remain vulnerable to hackers. As a result, you should ensure that your company has a data breach plan in place in case your new biometrics technology fails.
Bottom Line
For businesses and law firms, experiencing a security issue or data breach is practically unavoidable; what matters is how the problem is addressed and what steps are taken to prevent the issue from recurring in the future. By taking the actions and requirements suggested by expert’s analysis, law firms and lawyers increase their chances of successfully navigating a data breach and protecting their clients’ data. If you are facing any sort of inconvenience regarding biometric verification you can consult with an expert Data Security Attorney in Rolling Meadows, IL to resolve your case.