Behavioral biometrics is becoming an increasingly important component of strong customer authentication as financial institutions look for ways to improve security without introducing unnecessary friction. By analyzing how customers interact with digital devices and applications, banks can identify potentially suspicious behavior while allowing legitimate users to complete transactions with fewer interruptions.
The partnership between BioCatch and Entersekt demonstrates how behavioral biometric authentication can complement existing security technologies. Combining passive behavioral analysis with device-based authentication and risk-based security measures could help financial institutions strengthen fraud prevention, support passwordless banking, and deliver more convenient digital experiences.
Mercator Advisory Group has predicted that behavioral biometrics would change the landscape of strong customer authentication (Behavioral Biometrics Will Restructure the Authentication Landscape in the Next 5 Years) and this partnership between BioCatch and Entersekt further proves the point:
Banks Balance Strong Authentication With Digital Customer Experience
“The rewards of focusing so closely on the customer experience are many. To guarantee success, however, banks must deliver the same kinds of intuitive, low-friction – even fun – experiences that popular consumer apps do while bearing a heavier regulatory burden commensurate with their status as licensed, insured depositories and custodians of personal data. That’s a tall order without the right tools.
BioCatch and Entersekt Combine Behavioral Biometrics With Secure Authentication
BioCatch and Entersekt have both built impressive patent portfolios by developing tools that help secure self-service channels while enhancing the customer experience. Their collaboration promises to generate innovative new use cases, such as passwordless login and enhanced remote user registration.
The Entersekt Secure Platform is built on patented strong authentication and security technology, enabling innovative, rich digital experiences and secure payments for financial insitutions and other enterprises. BioCatch, in turn, leverages AI to analyze how users engage with digital interfaces and devices, using up to 2,000 parameters to passively authenticate a user and validate user identity in online applications.
“BioCatch’s behavioral biometrics technology is an exciting alternative to the fingerprint and facial recognition solutions we already offer on our secure platform,” said Sherif Samy, SVP North America at Entersekt. “It will add value for our customers, especially in usability, by helping to determine when step-up authentication is really required and when we can safely leave the user to go about their business uninterrupted.”
Risk-Based Authentication Adds Security When Suspicious Behavior Is Detected
If the BioCatch system detects an anomaly, it will send an alert to Entersekt’s security platform to perform an out-of-band, multi-factor authentication, which may also be mandated by law, as under PSD2 in Europe. Entersekt’s technology, which rests on a public-key infrastructure, can uniquely identify any consumer device through digital certificates, transforming it into a trusted factor of possession.”
The BioCatch and Entersekt partnership highlights the potential for behavioral biometrics to transform how financial institutions authenticate customers. Rather than requiring additional verification during every interaction, banks can use passive behavioral analysis to evaluate risk and introduce stronger authentication measures only when unusual activity is detected.
Combining behavioral biometrics with device authentication and multifactor security could also help financial institutions meet regulatory requirements while reducing unnecessary interruptions for legitimate customers. As digital banking continues to evolve, these integrated authentication approaches may become increasingly important for balancing fraud prevention, regulatory compliance, and a seamless customer experience.
The full press release is here.
Overview by Tim Sloane, VP, Payments Innovation at Mercator Advisory Group
