Security

iBICS

I/S Authentication Security

Authentication is a critical component of Information Systems (I/S) security. Identification of authentic modules, data, network components, users and just about any component of systems, applications and networks is valid in an open systems and network environment.

User authentication is a comprehensive area of information security unto itself.

Information Security professionals recognize three categories of user authentication techniques whereby user identification is based on one or more methods:

Something the user has such as a smart card
Something the user knows such as a password
Something the user is such as a user characteristic

Biometric authentication falls into the category of Something the user is whereby a user characteristic is represented by a fingerprint, voice print, hand measurement, retinal scan, hand signature and many others.

As the risks of security increase, applications may require multi-factor authentication which utilizes more than one form of authentication. For example, a government user may be required to provide a smart card and finger print for access to their high-security building. Another example is a telephone banking customer who may be required to provide their mother's maiden name while their voice is simultaneously verified as that of the registered account holder..

iBiometrics Library