"The Emergence of Zero Trust Consumers"

According to a Daon survey report, 92 percent of consumers believe that cybersecurity threats will continue to outpace cybersecurity technology, and 91 percent are willing to take additional security measures to prove their identity on an ongoing basis to protect their information and accounts. Findings show that consumers are aware of the high-risk environment they face when conducting various aspects of their lives online. These attitudes indicate the emergence of zero-trust consumers. The report titled "The Era of the Zero Trust Consumer," is based on a survey of more than 2,000 consumers in the US and over 1,000 in the UK conducted in October 2022. It reveals that consumers, like businesses, are accepting the reality of ongoing cybersecurity threats. A zero-trust architecture in the enterprise recognizes continuous and constantly evolving cybersecurity risks, and requires user identity, both inside and outside of organizations, to be authenticated and continuously verified before the user is granted access to networks, applications, or data. As the frequency and sophistication of online breaches, hacks, and fraud targeting businesses, governments, and consumers increases, consumers are becoming more aware of these threats and are determined to do whatever it takes to secure their accounts and information, according to Tom Grissen, CEO of Daon. Despite rising industry and consumer pressure to move beyond vulnerable passwords, the report finds that passwords remain the industry standard, with 68 percent of consumers stating that they are their most used and least trusted security measure. The findings show that consumers are ready to embrace stronger security measures and expect businesses with which they have accounts to meet them halfway in protecting their identities. This is especially true for their digital financial accounts, where consumers are concerned about the safety of their financial information and money due to their increased reliance on financial technology. Although 93 percent expect stronger security measures, passwords with one-time codes and simple passwords remain the most commonly used methods of safeguarding this information. This article continues to discuss key findings from Daon's survey of consumers on the topic of zero-trust.

Help Net Security reports "The Emergence of Zero Trust Consumers"