Identity management challenges 9 in 10 SMBs but biometric MFA not a top priority

More than 9 out of 10 SMBs are experiencing at least one identity management challenge, and balancing ease of use with security is the biggest challenge for nearly half (47 percent), according to new research from LastPass by LogMeIn.

The “SMBs Guide to Modern Identity” survey shows that at organizations with between 250 and 2,999 employees, IT security teams spend 4 hours per week managing password-related issues, with an average of 96 requests each month.

General security behavior of employees is seen as an area for improvement by 98 percent of IT and security professionals, and just under two-thirds (65 percent) say that upgrading Identity and Access Management (IAM) capabilities is a priority. The features most commonly identified as ideal for an identity solution are multifactor authentication (55 percent), integration with current infrastructure (52 percent), a built-in password generator (44 percent), support for legacy and cloud apps (44 percent), and an integrated system for managing, monitoring, and setting policies (44 percent). Strengthening user authentication with MFA technology is considered critical by 59 percent, though only 36 percent consider implementing biometric MFA to be a priority.

“When used individually, enterprise password management, SSO, and multifactor authentication, all bring unique security and productivity benefits to a business,” said John Bennett, General Manager, Identity and Access Management Business Unit at LogMeIn. “But when brought together under one solution, businesses have complete security and visibility into every user and access point in their business. Something we found almost all of surveyed IT professionals (93 percent) agreed with. With more limited resources, it’s particularly important for SMBs to look for all-in-one solutions that combine the key components and maximize an investment in identity technology.”

The LastPass Business solutions suite was expanded to provide SMBs with biometric-based adaptive SSO capabilities last month.

Article Topics

access management  |  biometrics  |  enterprise  |  identity access management (IAM)  |  identity management  |  LastPass  |  multi-factor authentication