Biometrics is both a mature technology in the physical security world and an innovation perpetually on the cutting edge. Biometric technologies received a boost during the COVID pandemic when “touchless” became a buzzword with particular relevancy to the world of biometrics. Higher security needs, such as “two-factor authentication,” are also driving demand for biometric products. We asked this week’s Expert Panel Roundtable: What are the latest technology trends in biometrics?
Though businesses are dealing with complexities around new biometrics laws, biometric technology has become a large part of access control, as standard proximity cards no longer provide enough protection for most enterprises. The introduction of biometrics working hand-in-hand with card readers has become increasingly popular in the form of fingerprints and facial recognition integrated with Bluetooth and smartphones. Additionally, the rise in edge computing for biometric access control solutions has increased efficiency in saving time and costs across entire organisations. The biggest challenge for businesses then becomes managing and securing this large aggregation of data points, so it's essential to avoid piecemeal systems and instead migrate to a complete surveillance system that integrates access control along with video, audio, and any other physical security measures put in place.
Biometric technology has the potential to transform digital authentication across a variety of applications including securing access to sensitive areas, creating frictionless traveler journeys, automating border controls, securing online authentication, validating payment transactions, and more.
Biometrics is increasingly used as an advanced and safe multi-factor authentication method because physical characteristics can be more difficult to falsify than passwords, PINs, or cards. Plus, frictionless biometrics such as facial recognition readers can provide a more secure and hygienic way of implementing multi-factor authentication. Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Deep Learning algorithms are used to enhance the performance of biometric identification and authentication, including bias removal and liveness detection in facial recognition. And these algorithms are rigorously designed, tested, and validated by recognised authorities such as NIST to ensure accuracy and efficiency in real-life situations.
We see an increase in Facial Recognition products that combine elements, such as a face with Iris, card, and PIN from the likes of Princeton Identity; and a Face with card and PIN from SABR coming onto the market. These multifactor readers are greatly improving the identification capabilities of this biometric technology and thereby improving performance and end-user perceptions of just how flexible and secure it can be. Another exciting area of development is Facial Recognition in Video Analytics as well. This is increasingly appearing in this sphere and while there are data privacy requirements to be mindful of, it offers many possibilities for the future.
We’re seeing an increase in the use of multi-factor authentication, which may include biometrics like fingerprints or facial recognition. However, biometrics can be simulated, so the effectiveness of the technology depends on the quality of the reader and liveness detection implemented by the manufacturer. In 2020 the USA's National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) updated standard SP800-63B, which defines authentication. Authentication is the process of proving that a person is who they say they are. A single-factor authentication such as an access card does not fully prove who the person is as someone could have stolen the card. So, would fingerprint or facial recognition readers be the ideal technology for any door? In SP800-63B, NIST contends that, for high-security authentication, biometrics is not recommended as a single-factor authentication as the process of identifying a person from a biometric is statistical and as such, there is a chance that a different person could match the biometric of another person. SP800-63B does however indicate that biometrics is an excellent verifier or Second Factor. Since verification has already identified the person, the statistical matching of the biometric can be much tighter with less chance of a false positive.