Microsoft introduces Face Check that matches a person's selfie with their photo ID for better security

Security has become one of the most essential topics in the tech industry. Microsoft has made a big move by introducing its Face Check facial recognition technology to strengthen its products. This new tool, created for companies, aims to boost security by matching a person’s selfie with their photo ID. It’s a big step in tackling cybercrime, which often takes advantage of weak ID checks.

Microsoft’s Face Check is now open to all business users, offering a more dependable way to check identities at a time when AI-generated fake content is becoming more common.

In a blog post, the Redmond-based tech giant found that 65% of cybercriminals’ attack paths involve weak login methods. Old tricks like CAPTCHAs or security questions just don’t cut it anymore. That’s why Microsoft came up with Face Check. It steps up the game by matching your selfie to a real photo ID, adding an extra layer of protection.

There’s a growing risk of impersonation and account takeover. Bad actors use insecure credentials in 66% of attack paths. For example, impersonators may use a compromised password to fraudulently log in to a system. With advancements in generative AI, complex impersonation tactics such as deepfakes are growing as well. Many organizations regularly onboard new employees remotely and offer a remote help desk. Without strong identity verification, how can organizations know who is on the other side of these digital interactions? Impersonators can easily bypass common verification methods such as counting bicycles on a CAPTCHA or asking which street you grew up on. As fraud skyrockets for businesses and consumers, and impersonation tactics have become increasingly complex, identity verification has never been more important.

But security isn’t the only focus here. Microsoft also prioritizes user privacy. The system shares match results, not any sensitive personal information. This method ensures companies can check identities more without putting privacy at risk. Face Check is good at spotting and blocking fake attempts, even the tricky deep fakes.

Microsoft has made it available to businesses. It is included in the Microsoft Entra Suite, but you can also get it as a standalone service. Each verification is priced at $0.25. If you want to try it out first, you can sign up for a free trial of the Entra Suite, which gives you eight Face Check verifications every month.

You can find more details about it here.

In other news, companies might want to try the new Microsoft Copilot for Security, which also offers AI-powered ways to deal with cyberattacks.

What do you think about this new security method?