Why Buying a Face Authentication System ≠ Fixing Security Gaps in Digital Banking
The Illusion of Progress: Why We Buy Instead of Solve
Lately, we’ve noticed a recurring pattern — especially among banks and fintechs pushing hard on digital transformation and service security. Too often, they confuse buying a face authentication software with actually solving their security problem.
And honestly, it’s a very human thing. We want to feel like we’ve done something. Bought something. Implemented something. So we can say the issue is “closed”. It’s like buying a gym membership and feeling like you’re one step closer to being healthy — even though, in reality, you’ve just spent money and nothing’s changed.
The same happens in digital banking. Take client face authentication in 2FA / MFA systems, for instance. Everyone wants to quickly boost security, reduce fraud, and simplify onboarding. So what happens? The companies jump straight into product selection — evaluating biometric tools, KYC platforms, and anti-fraud systems. They compare vendors, sign contracts, and launch projects.
Sounds logical, right? But very often, nobody stops to ask the simple yet crucial questions:
Where are our real risks?
Who might attack us?
What exactly are we trying to protect?
At what point in the customer journey is verification necessary — and where might it just create friction?
Not long ago, we watched one panel discussion called "Fraud Using Deepfake Technologies: How Not to Become a Victim" where experts talked about the tech, specific cases, huge financial losses, and possible solutions.
But no one talked about the most important thing: who are we actually protecting ourselves from? What kinds of threat actors are we dealing with? Which threat scenarios are realistic for a specific business or user? And what would really happen if one of those attacks worked?
We often talk about examples and tools — but not always about who, why, and what then.
The result? Companies end up buying expensive face authentication systems that:
Don’t solve their specific security problems
Create unnecessary UX barriers for clients
Look impressive in presentations but fail in real life
What to Do Before Choosing a Face Authentication Vendor?
The answer is surprisingly simple — yet it’s often skipped.
First, analyze your own business processes. Understand where key customer actions happen, where risks truly lie, and where fraudsters could actually cause harm.
Next, develop a threat model. Who might attack you? How? How likely are these scenarios?
Only after that should you start choosing a face authentication software.
Because buying a product is not the finish line. It’s not even the middle of the journey. It should be a consequence — the last step after you fully understand your security risks and needs.
Otherwise, you’re just creating the illusion of progress, wasting money, and staying stuck with the same problem.
For a detailed step-by-step guide on what you need to do before buying any face authentication product, check out our White Papers: