When it comes to security, you can never do too much. Whether you’re safeguarding your business from intruders, unwanted visitors, or hackers, you want to make it as difficult as possible to penetrate security measures.
This need is substantially heightened when you’re safeguarding sensitive data. Financial information, healthcare details, legal documents, intellectual property, trade secrets, and/or privileged information, to name are some of them.
This is why biometric access control is so crucial. But how does it all work? What are the different types of biometrics? And are there any additional benefits other than the obvious ones?
What is Biometric Access Control?
Biometric access control refers to using biological data to obtain access to enter a specific location or data. Think of using your fingerprints or facial features to unlock your smartphone.
This type of access control increases security, since these unique personal identifiers are extremely hard to duplicate. This is why biometrics have become part of any company’s file security best practices.
Why Would a Corporation Need One?
Biometric access control offers security to physical premises as well as online data. It can be installed at any entry point — gates, elevators, doors, and clock-in stations; as well as to gate access to networks, emails, and any other type of business data.
And while it may seem more cost effective to keep employees using keys, fobs, and passwords, there are many benefits to switching to a biometric access control system. These include:
It Increases Security
Anything that can be shared, lost, or hacked makes whatever it’s intended to protect vulnerable. Anyone who gets control of any of them can access the locations or information you’re trying to keep secure in the first place.
This is especially important if you work in a highly regulated industry where you could be exposed to legal liability, sanctions, or a suspended/loss of license if sensitive data were to be exposed.
Biometrics Are Difficult to Duplicate
You can walk into any Walmart and make a copy of keys. Or a hacker can use a dictionary attack to guess a person’s password.
However, biometric access control can include features such as continued authentication. Which makes it a lot harder for an unauthorized third party to gain access.
It Increases Efficiency
Using biometric technology means having access to information as soon as you need it. No need to waste time trying with password recovery methods. Or trying to come up with a new, original password that complies with all website requirements and that you haven’t used before.
It Leverages Modern Technology
While some biometric access control points only require something basic, such as fingerprints, other higher-end solutions extend protection even while the authorized user has already been granted access.
For example, Smart Eye Technology uses continuous facial recognition the entire time a document is open and displayed on a screen. If the authorized user walks away for a minute or if the software detects a shoulder surfer glancing at your computer, a warning sign pops up to block the view.
Employees Enjoy the Convenience
In addition to being significantly safer than passcodes, it’s also convenient — as users never have to remember passwords or PINs, or try to remember to bring traditional access items, such as cards or fobs.
How Does Work?
For biometric access control to work, the biological factors to be used are first converted to a format that’s readable by your network. This data is then encrypted and stored in highly secured servers or cloud-based infrastructure.
Finally, cybersecurity software analyzes entered biometrics with the existing database. Once there’s a match, the user gains authorization.
Since biometrics are stored in a database, along with the implementation of these forms of access control, you should always install available updates as soon as they are released. While you monitor this on your own, it’s a lot more practical and safe to do business with cybersecurity providers who are proactive about detecting vulnerabilities on a 24/7 basis.
Types of Biometric Access Control
There are two types, and all of them offer different degrees of security.
Physical Biometrics
Physical biometrics include physical traits, such as fingerprints, iris and retinas, ear shape, and facial features, which can all be mapped by a digital scanner.
Behavioral Biometrics
Behavioral biometric include actions such as typing patterns, walking gait, voice recognition, and signature analysis.
Perceived Cons
Let’s take a look at what could be perceived as negative when considering a biometric access control system.
Upfront Costs Appear High
As with any type of upgrade, implementing biometric access control comes with an investment. Yet, these types of costs are a sound way to spend your money, considering that it could lower your business costs long-term — considering that the average cybercrime incident costs millions of dollars.
And according to IBM’s Cost of a Data Breach Report for 2021, these breaches are the most expensive in the United States. And particularly within the healthcare industry.
Security Breaches Are Still Possible
Speaking of data breaches, while biometrics offers advanced security, they are not infallible. Breaches could happen if a hacker gains access to the database where the biometrics exists.
That said, this issue could be circumvented by implementing multi-factor authentication, continuous biometrics authentication, and/or requiring an authenticated electronic signature.
Protect Your Network With Smart Eye Technology
At Smart Eye Technology, we provide powerful, comprehensive, and affordable cybersecurity measures across all devices. We also make things simple by allowing you to control all implemented solutions and tools from one single platform.
Contact us or schedule a demo to see how we can help you protect your network.
