Biometrics & Device Trust

Why is Biometric Authentication Used in CIAM?

Biometric authentication is used in CIAM to improve security while making login faster and easier for users.

Biometrics such as fingerprint or facial recognition rely on unique physical characteristics that are difficult to steal or replicate. Unlike passwords, biometric data is verified locally on the user’s device and is not shared with applications, reducing the risk of phishing, credential theft, and replay attacks. This makes biometric authentication especially effective for consumer-facing applications with large user bases.

From a user experience perspective, biometrics remove friction. Users don’t need to remember passwords or enter codes—authentication happens instantly with a simple touch or glance. This leads to higher login success rates and better engagement.

In CIAM, biometrics are typically used as part of modern, standards-based authentication methods like passkeys rather than as raw biometric data.

CIAM platforms like LoginRadius enable teams to leverage device-based biometrics through passkeys, design secure authentication journeys, and manage customer identities centrally, delivering strong security without compromising usability.

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What is Device-Based Authentication?

Device-based authentication is an authentication method where access is verified using a trusted user device instead of a password.

Rather than relying on something the user knows, this approach relies on something the user has—their phone, laptop, or tablet—and something they are, such as a fingerprint or face scan. Authentication is performed using secure keys stored on the device, often protected by the device’s operating system and hardware security features.

This method is commonly used with modern authentication standards like passkeys. When a user attempts to sign in, the device proves its identity cryptographically without sharing secrets with the application. As a result, device-based authentication is highly resistant to phishing, credential reuse, and brute-force attacks.

For users, it offers a faster and more seamless login experience. For businesses, it reduces account takeover risk while improving sign-in success rates and lowering support overhead.

With a CIAM platform like LoginRadius, teams can enable device-based authentication as part of flexible login flows, support passwordless experiences, and manage customer identities centrally across web and mobile applications.

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How is Biometric Authentication Used in CIAM?

Biometric authentication in CIAM is used as a secure and user-friendly way to verify identity without relying on passwords.

In practice, CIAM platforms do not store or process raw biometric data. Instead, biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition are handled locally by the user’s device. The device confirms the user’s presence and unlocks a cryptographic credential, which is then used to authenticate the user securely.

This approach is commonly implemented through standards-based methods such as passkeys. The biometric step acts as a local verification layer, while the CIAM platform validates the cryptographic response. This ensures strong security, phishing resistance, and privacy compliance.

Biometric authentication is often used during login, step-up authentication, or high-risk actions, balancing security with minimal user friction. It improves login success rates while reducing reliance on passwords and one-time codes.

With a CIAM platform like LoginRadius, teams can support biometric-based authentication through passkeys, design adaptive authentication journeys, and manage customer identities centrally as they scale.

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How Do CIAM Platforms Assess Device Trust?

CIAM platforms assess device trust by evaluating signals that indicate whether a device is known, secure, and behaving normally for a given user.

This typically starts with device recognition. CIAM systems can identify returning devices using secure identifiers, cookies, or cryptographic credentials, helping distinguish trusted devices from new or unknown ones. Contextual signals—such as location, IP reputation, browser type, and operating system—are also analyzed to detect anomalies or risky access attempts.

Behavioral patterns play an important role as well. If a login attempt deviates from a user’s usual behavior—such as a new device from an unusual location—CIAM can trigger step-up authentication like biometrics, OTPs, or magic links. For trusted devices, authentication can remain frictionless.

Modern CIAM platforms increasingly rely on device-based and passwordless authentication, where cryptographic keys bound to a device provide strong proof of trust without exposing sensitive data.

With a CIAM platform like LoginRadius, teams can combine device signals, adaptive authentication, and passwordless methods to assess trust dynamically—delivering strong security while keeping the login experience smooth for legitimate users.

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What are WebAuthn Authenticators?

WebAuthn authenticators are trusted devices or components that securely verify a user’s identity using public-key cryptography instead of passwords.

They are used as part of the WebAuthn standard to create and use credentials for authentication. Authenticators generate and store a private key securely—either on the device itself or on an external security key—while sharing only a public key with the application. During login, the authenticator signs a challenge to prove the user’s identity without exposing any secrets.

There are two main types of WebAuthn authenticators: platform authenticators and roaming authenticators. Platform authenticators are built into devices like smartphones and laptops and often use biometrics such as fingerprints or face recognition. Roaming authenticators are external devices, such as hardware security keys, that can be used across multiple systems.

Because authentication is tied to the correct website and device, WebAuthn authenticators are highly resistant to phishing and credential theft.

With a CIAM platform like LoginRadius, teams can support WebAuthn authenticators as part of passwordless login, customize authentication flows, and manage customer identities securely at scale.

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What is Biometric Fallback Authentication?

Biometric fallback authentication is a backup authentication method used when a primary biometric login cannot be completed.

In biometric-based flows, authentication typically relies on device biometrics such as fingerprint or facial recognition. However, biometrics may fail due to hardware issues, environmental conditions, or changes in the user’s appearance. Biometric fallback ensures users can still access their accounts securely without being locked out.

Common fallback options include device PINs, passcodes, one-time passwords (OTP), magic links, or other verified authentication methods. These alternatives are triggered only when biometric verification is unavailable or unsuccessful, maintaining both security and usability.

In CIAM, fallback authentication is essential for balancing strong security with real-world user scenarios. It helps reduce support issues while ensuring continuity of access across devices and situations.

With a CIAM platform like LoginRadius, teams can design flexible authentication journeys that include biometric login with secure fallback options, apply adaptive policies, and manage customer identities centrally as they scale.

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