Page 81 - Cyber Defense eMagazine - November 2017

secure platform. By requiring an individual to provide his or her identity, the platform’s
algorithm can significantly lower the chances of a system being tricked into wrongly
identifying a subject.

3. Use a hybrid approach to store data: When it comes to storing biometric data, there is
a common debate on whether the server (i.e., the Cloud) or local storage systems
should be deployed. As a best practice, BioConnect recommends that companies utilize
a hybrid approach as there are positives and negatives to both. But more importantly,
enterprises need to consider not only where they store their data but how. One method,
asymmetric cryptography, uses public and private keys to encrypt and decrypt data, with
one key that can be shared with everyone and another key that is kept secret. This
practice offers increased security.

4. Education: The best practice above all is education. The challenge we face today is that
people are skeptical of biometrics because they don’t fully understand what it is and how
it works. Every day, efforts are made in the right direction as more and more people
adopt biometrics. With the introduction of biometrics in the mobile phone industry,
physical security has moved forward as Acuity Market Intelligence forecasted that all
smartphones shipped will have biometrics included within its software by 2020. The
responsibility of education falls on the manufacturers and providers to educate the public
on how biometrics can simplify and protect one’s identity.

In the not-so-distant future, passwords will go the way of cassette tapes, CD players and other
devices that have been retired from everyday use. And I for one cannot wait. I envision a world
where a person is no longer tethered to a plethora of passwords that they need just to access
their own information. In the next few years, we will begin to shift away from passwords to the
point where an individual can simply be themselves to prove their identity. We will wipe out the
need to memorize different passwords and sequences, and instead we’ll rely on our eyes, voice,
hands, face –qualities that are unique to you and you alone—to protect our rightful identity.

About the Author

Rob Douglas is the Chairman and CEO of BioConnect. Over
the last fourteen years, he has been providing global market
leadership in the biometric identity market. He was formerly
Board Member, President and CEO of Bioscrypt Inc from
2003 to 2009 (BYT.TO) which was successfully sold to L-1
Identity Solutions (ID:NYSE) in 2008. Prior to that Rob was
instrumental in shaping high growth technology companies as
a former leader at IBM, Oracle and Siebel Systems. While at
Siebel Systems, Rob led a hyper growth business unit from
$1m to $110m in less than 4 years. Connect with him on
Linkedin or Twitter @RobMDouglas7.

81 Cyber Defense eMagazine – November 2017 Edition
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