Fraud prevention managers cite biometrics as key tool

While employee access to social media poses the biggest internal security threat to organisations, biometrics is the most important new security tool, new research reveals.A survey of 200 fraud prevention managers and directors was commissioned by Callcredit Information Group this month, finding that some 56% of UK organisations have already been affected by fraud.The fraud prevention staff saw biometrics as a critical new tool, with many stating plans to invest in the technology.Indeed, biometrics was identified as the biggest priority for organisations as they look to prevent fraud, with 53% expecting to significantly increase their investment in biometric technologies.Consumers should expect to see an increase in other identity verification techniques such as artificial intelligence systems (24%) and voice recognition systems (23%) within the next three years, it found.John Cannon, director, fraud & ID, Callcredit Information Group commented: “As fraud in our society grows, and as geographically mobile individuals increasingly need to establish their digital identity, so the pressure on fraud and risk professionals to protect their organisations and consumers mounts. Our research reveals that more than half of organisations have been affected by fraud, demonstrating that fraud prevention is one of the biggest risk concerns facing global boardrooms.”Cannon concluded: “Whilst fraud professionals might be confident in their abilities to prevent and deal with a potential breach, our research suggests that employees need much more education on the risks. Explaining the threats, giving them suggestions on how to protect themselves and informing them about ways to spot a breach could be instrumental in protecting a company from cybercrime. Organisations are only as strong as their weakest link, and the entire workforce needs to understand what the cyber vulnerabilities are in order to prevent them.”Also in the survey, more than a quarter of respondents (28%) believe that Brexit will lead to an increase in the risk of fraud. Reasons for this perceived increased threat were reported to be “reduced information sharing” (50%) and “increased trade with non EU countries” (46%). The research, one of the first surveys of fraud and risk professionals since the EU referendum, also revealed that almost half (41%) expect to increase their anti-fraud expenditure following the UK's decision to leave the EU.

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