Companies were challenged to work around lockdown mandates and other pandemic protocols when the novel coronavirus broke out in 2020. They needed to adapt quickly to survive in the current economic landscape and stay relevant among consumers.
Shifting to a remote work model enabled enterprises to keep operations afloat amid the COVID-19 global health crisis. Subsequently, the remote workforce is projected to address the concerns of many organizations regarding their industry’s health and the need for experienced professionals even after the pandemic.
Although pivoting to remote work is a tremendous help for many enterprises, it can become a security risk if the firm uses antiquated security systems. Outdated identity verification processes make it easy for criminals to infiltrate the network or use stolen data to impersonate real employees and carry out illicit schemes.
In the age of pandemic and beyond, organizations must ensure the safety and security of their telecommuters. Moreover, since remote work is meant to provide a more convenient and safer means of performing tasks, enterprises must also ensure a seamless user experience for their employees.
One way to meet the demand for security and a pleasant remote work experience is to deploy a passwordless system. Technological innovations have paved the way for more robust and effective online defenses to keep out bad actors.
Solutions like FIDO2 device-based authentication allow enterprises to register their staffs’ devices to their accounts as a layered barrier against fraudulent attempts. It harnesses a strong combination of authentication credentials like something you are (biometrics) and something you have (cryptographic keys).
FIDO2 device-based authentication provides better security than passwords. The on-device cryptographic keys cannot be unlocked without supplementing the biometric authentication factor. In addition, modern mobile devices are often manufactured with built-in chips that safeguard the biometric credential, ensuring that it cannot be extracted from the registered device.
To learn more about the matter, see this infographic from authID that elaborates the relevance of biometric identity assurance in the remote workforce.