How does biometric auth enhance compliance & security?

How Does Biometric Authentication Enhance Compliance & Security?#

Biometric authentication (e.g., Face ID, Touch ID, Windows Hello) is a key component of modern digital security, enhancing both compliance and user protection. When combined with passkeys and WebAuthn, biometrics provide a seamless yet highly secure authentication method that aligns with PSD2’s Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) requirements.

How Biometrics Improve Security#

1. Phishing Resistance#

• Unlike passwords, biometric credentials cannot be phished or stolen.
• Attackers cannot trick users into providing a fingerprint or face scan on fraudulent websites.

2. Hardware-Backed Security#

• Biometric authentication occurs in secure hardware modules, such as:
  • Secure Enclave (Apple)
  • Trusted Platform Module (TPM) (Windows)
  • Trusted Execution Environment (TEE) (Android)
• These modules prevent unauthorized access to biometric data.

3. Elimination of Password-Related Attacks#

• Traditional authentication methods (passwords, OTPs) are vulnerable to:
  • Credential stuffing
  • Man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks
  • Data breaches
• Biometrics eliminate these risks by removing passwords from authentication flows.

How Biometrics Support Regulatory Compliance#

1. Meets PSD2’s Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) Requirements#

• PSD2 mandates that authentication includes at least two of the following:
  • Something You Know (e.g., PIN, password)
  • Something You Have (e.g., device with passkey)
  • Something You Are (e.g., fingerprint, face scan)
• Passkeys with biometrics inherently fulfill this requirement by combining device-bound security with biometric authentication.

2. Ensures Dynamic Linking in Payment Authentication#

• PSD2 requires transactions to be cryptographically bound to authentication.
• Biometrics securely verify the user’s presence during sensitive transactions, reducing fraud risk.

3. Secure and Private Data Storage#

• Biometric data is never stored in the cloud; instead, it is kept locally on the device in a secure enclave.
• This ensures compliance with GDPR and other data protection regulations.

4. Reduced Fraud & Lower Compliance Costs#

• Financial institutions face PSD2 non-compliance penalties if fraud rates exceed thresholds.
• Biometrics significantly lower fraud risks, reducing the need for additional security measures.

Why Passkeys + Biometrics Are the Future of Authentication#

• Seamless user experience: No need for users to remember passwords.
• Highly secure: Prevents phishing, replay attacks, and credential theft.
• Regulatory compliance: Meets PSD2’s SCA requirements with hardware-backed authentication.

Conclusion#

Biometric authentication enhances both security and compliance by providing phishing-resistant, hardware-backed authentication that aligns with PSD2, SCA, and global security standards. When combined with passkeys and WebAuthn, it eliminates password risks, enhances fraud prevention, and ensures seamless multi-factor authentication.

Read the full article#

About Corbado

Corbado is the Authentication Intelligence Platform for CIAM teams running consumer authentication at scale. We help you see what IDP logs and generic analytics tools can't: where passkeys, passwords, OTP, social login and fallback journeys succeed, stall or fail, which devices and browsers create friction, and when an OS update silently breaks login. Two products: Corbado Observe layers process mining and observability across authentication journeys. Corbado Connect adds managed passkeys with analytics built in alongside your IDP. VicRoads runs passkeys for 5M+ users with Corbado (+80% passkey activation). Talk to a Passkey Expert →