An identity security company, Ping Identity UK, commissioned third party research with survey consultancy, Censuswide, surveying IT decision makers across UK, France and Germany to ascertain their attitudes to the ‘barriers to business security’. This research suggests European IT decision makers face significant barriers in implementing new identity security technologies, and in undertaking digital transformation projects, according to the survey organisers.
Prioritising digital transformation and specifically putting new identity security software in place was considered either a top priority or a key priority by 84 per cent of European IT decision makers (ITDMs). With 86 per cent of respondents citing that passwords formed the basis of their current access management solutions, the research also revealed – worryingly – that 65 per cent either strongly agree or agree that passwords are no longer fit for purpose.
The research suggested a desire to remove passwords and move to new innovative technologies, including multi-factor authentication and fingerprint scanning. With only 5 per cent of respondents stating there were no barriers to adopting new technologies, several roadblocks were cited as key:
•Budget restrictions: 57 per cent;
•Time restrictions: 28 per cent; and
•Compliance reasons: 24 per cent of UK respondents.
Such barriers must be broken down, as 61 per cent of European ITDMs believe that investing and adopting in Identity Defined Security technologies is a necessity, not a luxury, for business security, agility and growth. A majority of respondents across Europe said that the main reason for wanting to roll out more secure identity-defined technologies was to put security at the heart of the business. Furthermore, 56 per cent said that they would consider rolling out technologies such as multi-factor authentication and fingerprint scanning, because these are now proven, credible technologies that can bolster and enhance business security for the future.
Phil Allen, VP of sales, Ping Identity EMEA said: “It is clear that IT decision makers throughout Europe face significant barriers to making the changes needed to safeguard employee identity, and this is a real cause for concern. The transition to Identity Defined Security software and to digitally transforming the business, should not be borne by the IT department alone. Buy-in from the board, CEO and other key stakeholders within a business is imperative to ensure that we move from the password era, into a more secure, ‘identity-defined’ future.”
