Biometric Solutions: Technology, Security, And Applications

How Is Biometric Technology Applied In Real-World Scenarios?

The following are the key application cases of Biometric Solutions:

SIM verification - Due to double-factor authentication, SIM cards are registered only to genuine persons. Biometrics thus prevent multiple identities from using one SIM card. Countries like Nigeria and Vietnam use biometric SIM registration to reduce SIM-related fraud.

Visa Application - To prevent intruders and terrorists from entering from abroad, biometric scans are done for the visa application process. In India, ten fingerprints and facial scans are mandatory biometric enrollment done while applying for visas.

Voter registration - Biometrics prevent voter fraud by ensuring only eligible individuals cast their ballot.

Airport Security - Airports worldwide use biometric systems for efficient security screening. Iris recognition while travelling to another country is an example of a real application of biometrics.

Time attendance systems - Businesses use fingerprint scanning to take employee attendance at the workplace. This is done to prevent "buddy punching," where employees clock in for each other.

Civil ID Systems - Biometric civil ID programs store citizens' biometric data to enable easy verification for public services. India’s UIDAI Aadhaar system is one the largest biometric identification programs in the world. We have so far covered more than 1.3 million citizens' data via biometrics. Due to this, the Aadhaar system has helped eliminate fraudulent claims and improve the efficiency of public service delivery.

What Is A Biometric Machine

A biometric machine is an electronic device that captures, stores, and verifies the data collected from biometric identifiers like fingerprints or face scans.

In more detail, the machines first collect the data from the person. Then, the machine’s algorithm creates a biometric template, which is verified with the biometric database. If the template matches, the control is granted. If not, it shows an error.

Given the growing popularity of biometrics, these machines can be observed in areas like:

Airports Checking systems

Government agencies

Law enforcement

Big enterprises

Criminal investigations departments

What Is A Biometric Scanner

We saw how biometric machines verify a person's identity. But, the information is collected by a biometric hardware known as a biometric scanner.

A biometric scanner takes a digital copy of physical information for authentication purposes. Devices like the U-Match USB scanner and mobile biometric kits are popular fingerprint-scanning devices.

How Does Biometric Verification Work?

Here is a step-by-step guide on the verification process using a biometric technology like fingerprint matching or face recognition.

Step 1: A biometric scanner captures an individual’s information such as fingerprints, face, voice patterns or eye retina scans.

Step 2: The data is securely stored digitally.

Step 3: A biometric template is created from the stored data.

Step 4: The stored template is compared to the originally captured biometric template to confirm the person's identity.

What Are The Different Types Of Biometrics

The seven types of biometrics include:

Fingerprint biometrics

Face recognition

Voice recognition

Vein movement biometrics

Iris recognition

Hand geometry recognition

Behavioural biometrics.

Which Biometric Is Used Most?

Research by IEEE found that fingerprint scanning is the most used biometric technology solution. Almost 75% of people are comfortable using it.

But why are fingerprints most used? The following reasons add to it:

Uniqueness - Fingerprint scans are at least 98% accurate. Even identical twins don't share the same fingerprints.

Usability - The low effort ease of use makes fingerprint scanning a reliable and preferred choice.

Universality - From smartphones to access systems, fingerprint mapping can be implemented everywhere.

Is Biometric Technology Safe?

Biometrics are generally safer to use. Unlike passwords that are hard to remember and PINs that are easy to hack, biometric technology considers who you are to grant control. It relies on your fingerprint, voice, retina, or face scan to authenticate access over a system, data or device like a smartphone.

But, unlike any other technology, biometrics also has its share of risks and drawbacks. Read the next section to find out.

What Are The Risks Of Biometrics

Biometrics offer convenience and security for your data. But, it also poses significant risks :

Data breaches - When someone gets unauthorized access to your data via hacking or fraud, it's called data breaching.

Identity theft - Hackers who gain access to biometric data can use it to commit fraud or impersonate individuals.

Privacy concerns - Many government organizations and law enforcement agencies have tracked people's data. This raises serious ethical issues.

What Are The Disadvantages Of Biometrics?

While biometrics have great benefits, it also comes with certain drawbacks. Here are five disadvantages of biometrics solutions Inc.:

1. Data Security and Privacy Issues

Biometric data, like fingerprints and facial recognition scans, are extremely sensitive. If it gets hacked and leaked, it can cause millions of losses. A study by Gemalto in 2019 found that 39% of data breaches involved biometric data.

In fact, the 2015 breach of the U.S. Office of Personnel Management exposed 5.6 million fingerprints. This is indeed an alarming situation.

2. Costly To Implement

While biometric solutions are reliable and easy to use, they are costly on the pocket, especially for smaller organizations. To have biometric technology solutions, one must spend heavily on:

Hardware and software setup costs

Storage costs for protecting data

Regular updation and maintenance costs.

While MNCs and large-scale companies can absorb these expenses, startups and small-scale companies with limited funds may struggle to adopt biometric solutions in their organization.

3. False Positives and False Negatives

Biometric systems can sometimes make errors, either incorrectly identifying individuals (false positives) or failing to recognize authorized users (false negatives). These mistakes can lead to security breaches or lockout issues for legitimate users.

4. Accessibility Issues

Individuals with certain physical disabilities or temporary injuries like burns may find it difficult or impossible to use biometric systems. For instance, fingerprint scanners might not work for a person who had an accident and injured his finger. The system wouldn't grant access.

5. Lack of Standardization

There are no universal standards for biometric technology. So, a company that uses one system might face difficulty while collaborating with another company that uses a different system.

To overcome these issues, opt for softwares that:

Provide multi-factor authentication (MFA) options, such as combining biometrics with PIN codes or smart cards.

Deploys one-time biometrics to assure that an individual is not just real but also genuinely present while accessing data.

Use end-to-end encryption and decentralized storage systems to protect your data from getting leaked.

Utilize AI-enhanced biometric technology solutions that improve accuracy over time, reducing the likelihood of false positives and negatives.

Choose biometric platforms that follow international standards (such as ISO/IEC 19794), ensuring future compatibility and easier integration with other systems.

Looking for a cloud-based biometric solution that is affordable and safe? Trust Ekklavya Solutions - a leading software and biometric provider since 30 years.

We don't offer standard software. We understand your business needs and complexity and provide customized solutions. Contact us today and book your FREE consultation call.