Nonbiometric

Nonbiometric refers to methods for identification or authentication that do not rely on biological traits. In information technology, nonbiometric authentication uses factors other than biometrics, typically knowledge, possession, or contextual factors, while biometric authentication uses measurements of a person’s body.

Common nonbiometric methods include passwords or PINs (knowledge factors); security tokens, smart cards, and hardware keys (possession factors); and push notifications or approvals on mobile devices. Contextual controls such as device reputation, location, IP address, time of access, and risk scoring also fall into nonbiometric approaches when they do not measure a physical trait.

Advantages of nonbiometric methods include privacy benefits, compatibility with legacy systems, and straightforward recovery if credentials are lost. Limitations include higher susceptibility to credential theft, phishing, or stolen devices, and the need for strong password policies and secure token management. Nonbiometric methods are often used in multi-factor authentication to balance usability and security, sometimes in combination with biometric factors for stronger protection.

Regulatory and privacy considerations apply to authentication data in general; biometric data is often treated as sensitive. Nonbiometric methods can mitigate some privacy concerns but still require robust security practices, such as secure credential storage, timely revocation, and monitoring for abuse. The choice between nonbiometric and biometric approaches depends on risk assessment, the user population, and regulatory requirements, with many organizations employing a hybrid or layered strategy.