IBM Study: Consumers Weigh in on Biometrics, Authentication and the Future of Identity

The technology and security headlines of 2017 foreshadow big changes on the horizon in the world of identity and access.

Rumors of the death of the password may have been exaggerated in the past, but major data breaches have removed any doubt that our email addresses, passwords and personal information, including Social Security numbers, are no longer sufficient to protect our identities online. At the same time, options for using more unique data, such as biometrics, for authentication are gaining popularity, with fingerprint scans already pervasive on personal devices and facial recognition moving into the mainstream with the latest smartphone models.

But while these new authentication methods are certainly picking up steam, the path to a completely password-less world will be a long journey and, ultimately, users will lead the way.

Preparing for a New Era of Authentication

As we reach this crucial turning point in the authentication landscape, IBM commissioned a broad consumer study to better understand global and generational consumer preferences around biometrics, passwords and multifactor authentication.

IBM Security’s new “Future of Identity Study,” released today, surveyed nearly 4,000 adults around the globe. Below are some of the top findings.

Security is beginning to outweigh convenience. People ranked security as the highest priority, over convenience and privacy, for logging in to the majority of applications, particularly when it comes to money-related apps.

Biometrics are becoming mainstream. Sixty-seven percent of respondents are comfortable using biometric authentication today, while 87 percent say they’ll be comfortable with these technologies in the near future.

Millennials are moving beyond passwords. While 75 percent of millennials (respondents between the ages of 20 and 36) are comfortable using biometrics today, less than half are using complex passwords and 41 percent reuse passwords to access numerous accounts. Older generations showed more care with password creation, but were less inclined to adopt biometrics and multifactor authentication.

Taking a closer look at these trends, the future of identity may be closer than we think!

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