Alternative forms of electronic identification have come to the fore, such as smart cards, tokens and various biometric keys, but this technology has never come close to the simplicity, user-acceptance and functionality of the humble password.
However, as we increasingly equip our lives with technology – think the Internet of Things – the need for user accounts, passwords and answers to security questions is at an all-time high.
In such a climate, it’s easy for employees to become complacent about how they use and record passwords. It has led to a post-it password culture whereby 30% of staff members actually write their passwords down. If keys are not literally being written on little yellow tabs and stuck to computer monitors, then they may as well be.
This culture is nurtured by the can-do attitude of staff in the corporate domain, who in their infinite efficiency, are able to work around security features. But a study by Dell has found that nearly 70% of IT professionals consider employee workarounds to avoid IT-imposed security measures as the greatest risk to an organization.