With data security threats looming large, data centers and other companies holding sensitive information are looking for solutions. It starts by taking a hard look at a company's existing security framework and determining where the shortcomings lie. This self-awareness is by no means easy, but it is necessary in order to progress. Sometimes, all it takes it a fresh set of eyes.

One employee, Mathias Thurman, at a new software writing company immediately noticed security risks that had previously flown under the radar, according to Computer World. The company handed out proximity access badges to its employees – RFID devices that allow the user security clearance for equipped entry points. But the badges lacked any identification measures, meaning any intruder could obtain one and conjure up a believable lie in order to bypass the front desk.

Thurman recalled his last job, where a thief did just that – stole a badge, masqueraded as a new IT employee and walked out with several laptops. A name and face on the badge would help matters, but biometric access control offers the closest thing to foolproof that the security world has. Data center security is the most obvious choice for biometric technology – the number of server cabinets and digital information housed in a single data center requires the best protection available. But a fingerprint reader is a useful tool for any company looking to protect its assets.

Surveys point to growing role for biometrics
At a web conference hosted by the International Data Corporation (IDC), experts offered their predictions on the future of cybersecurity, according to Find Biometrics. While the trend of biometric security on smart phones and tablets is well-known and growing, it is not the only area of expansion for the technology.

The IDC forecast that 20 percent of access control for sensitive enterprise data will require a multi-step authentication by 2016. Such a platform would likely feature biometrics as a fundamental method of access control.

As more companies realize the need for robust digital security as a means of deterring cyberthieves, biometric platforms are likely to become the preferred method. It the only system for which the user is the key – something that cannot be forged, faked or forced. Data centers that make the transition to biometric security will be able protect their assets and comply with regulatory audits.