Several weeks ago, an organization I belong to was the victim of an office robbery. Aside from dealing with the trauma of having their offices burglarized, they also had to deal with the fact that two company laptops were stolen--along with all the sensitive information and customer data they contained.

They did the right thing by individually contacting all their members and informing them of the breach. Many of the members berated them for not having the laptops in a locked cabinet. I gave them a different response; I introduced them to biometrics.

Biometric security--automated authentication achieved by analyzing a person's physical or behavioral attributes--used to be the stuff of Hollywood blockbusters. The movie character walks up to a fortress-like building, waves his hand or says a few words, and magically the doors glide open. In reality, biometrics are decidedly less glamorous and have actually become a feasible and effective security reinforcement for growing businesses.

Biometrics Have Come a Long Way
Four years ago, biometric security was a costly proposition for the average business, starting at a minimum of $3,000 for a basic installation. But large, clunky scanners have mainly been replaced by sleek devices capable of scanning fingerprints, eyes, voice patterns and even subdermal implants.

Needless to say, times have changed. The investment in biometric security has decreased considerably, with installations averaging just $300 to $500 for a basic setup.

Why You Need It
Digital theft is rampant, and the situation is only going to get worse before it gets better. Hackers, phishers and fraudsters often test their covert activities on unsuspecting smaller businesses before attempting to tackle bigger ones. And because these thieves' rites of passage aren't openly discussed, business owners are none the wiser.

No one really knows the true impact of security breaches, as only 20 percent of businesses ever report their intrusions to legal authorities, according to the FBI and the Computer Security Institute. But just because few businesses are reporting security breaches doesn't mean they're not happening.

Many companies keep episodes quiet so their public images aren't tarnished. They choose to save face at the outset, but regret it later when lawsuits start pouring in. Your business can potentially avoid this scenario by implementing appropriate security measures--and this may include the use of biometrics.

Biometric Benefits
Along with a sharp decrease in cost and an increase in user-friendliness, biometrics offers a host of other benefits:

• Seamlessness. If your fingerprint is your password, your password is always with you. No more Jedi mind tricks or educated guesses to recall passwords.
   
• Added peace of mind. Biometrics offer the ease of knowing that even if your computer gets stolen, no one will be able to log on and access sensitive data.
   
• Increased compliance. Today, many business owners need to comply with legislation like HIPAA and Sarbanes-Oxley. If you can prove you've taken every measure to protect your customers' sensitive data, your overall risk is decreased substantially.
   
• Mobility. Biometrics can be configured to work with a desktop or a laptop, so being mobile isn't a challenge.
   
• Cost-effectiveness. Installation is now so cost-effective, many security-conscious companies are getting on board.

Murphy's Law of Biometrics
There's always the chance you'll get a cold and your voice pattern will change, the biometrics system malfunctions or, worst of all, someone gets a photocopy of your fingerprint. What then?

Most quality biometrics systems have a built-in bypass that requires you to answer a battery of security questions to gain access to your data. Also be sure to invest in a system that can tell the difference between a photocopy and a real fingerprint. But the best thing to do is use biometrics as a complement to your business's existing security systems rather than as a wholesale replacement.