Security survey

Biometric authentication is currently being used by only four per cent of companies responding to a Network World/Enterprise Management Associates (EMA) survey on security.

Within the next 18 months, however, 11 per cent of the Network World readers who answered the survey said they plan to add biometric authentication to their networks.

Passwords are the most popular security feature today. Ninety three per cent of respondents said they use passwords, and 73 per cent said they plan to add additional password protection within the next 18 months. Rounding out the top five security measures currently in place are virus-detection software, firewall appliances, security management software and the use of a trusted Web server.

Over the next 18 months, users said their most popular security options would be adding security monitoring tools, virus detection software, firewall appliances and security management software.

Three out of five readers said their security infrastructure is adequate, while 36 per cent conceded theirs was not adequate. When asked what changes they would like to make to improve security, 78 percent cited user authentication and more accurate network monitoring as their top priorities. Fingerprints emerged as the type of biometrics that respondents said they are most interested in, followed by voice prints and retinal scans.