Biometrics is one of the most useful security technologies of the modern era that allows authenticating a user’s identity through unique biological characteristics. The whole process works with a biometric authentication system that is designed to store biometric data so that it can verify a user’s identity when authenticating their account.
Many people may not know, but the term ‘biometric’ is a combination of bio (human) and metric (measurement). So we can say that biometrics are metrics that are related to human features that make an individual different from others.
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How Does the Biometric Authentication Technology Work?
The technology works by simply comparing two datasets with one another. The first one is available in the biometric device that will collect the data of the individual and the second one is a dataset that is used to store the data of an individual. When the two datasets are nearly identical, the device will allow access to the owner or visitor to the premise or device. Some types of biometric authentication tools available are:
- Fingerprint scanners
- Facial and voice recognition
- Iris (eye) scanners
- Hand geometry
It is very important that the match between these two datasets are almost identical but not similar accurately. The reason here is that the two datasets cannot match 100% as there can be an incident when a minor injury occurs that can lead to changes in the print pattern. A highly advanced technology used to design the process that doesn’t need 100% accuracy is a challenging task and ensures the chance of a false negative. At the same time, it also helps increase the offs that a fake fingerprint, retina, or voice might be considered genuine.
Advantages Of Biometric Authentication Technology
Using the highly advanced and reliable biometric authentication technology allows users and owners to deploy a secure access model and ensure increased security of the building or a device. Some of the amazing benefits of switching to biometric authentication, like a fingerprint scanner, include:
- Improved security – One of the most important benefits of investing in biometric authentication technology is that this adds an additional layer, and the best one, of security for the safety of your data and devices. The technology provides a secure and uncrackable access control solution that makes it nearly impossible for cybercriminals to break into your data. The devices recognize only biometric, which no one can mimic too easily.
- Higher accuracy – When you install a biometric authentication device to your building to allow access for the team members, you will notice that this is a highly advanced technology and allows accuracy only to the authenticated persons. According to specialists in the field, fingerprint scanners are one of the world’s most sophisticated biometric modalities, which means your safety is in safe hands. They provide almost 100% of accuracy during authentication!
- Speedy authentication – We all know how time-consuming it can be to go with the traditional security methods like passwords. Typing a security password is a lot lengthier than simply putting your finger on the scanner to get access. And if you forget your password, it takes minutes or longer to retrieve it. On the other hand, biometric authentication is easy and quick to validate your identity via fingerprint or any other mode like voice, or face ID. There is no need to remember your password or carry keys as you are your own password.
- Improves user accountability – One of the best parts about using biometric authentication technology is that this needs the appearance of the person. You cannot cut the finger of someone to gain access, which is what generates valid and auditable records showing who exactly tried to access a system. So we can say that biometric authentication technology can help improve accountability to a great extent.
- Non-transferable – As we already know that this technology works with the biometrics of an individual, which means only the authorized person can gain access using their voice, fingerprints, retina, etc., so the individual needs to be present in the authorization. The biometric is not transferable, which makes it an even more reliable technology.
- This is nearly spoof-proof – We hear that there are around 7 persons with the same facial features across the world, but none of them would have the same fingerprints at all. And since replicating the fingerprints of an individual is nearly impossible, it becomes impossible that your fingerprint will match up 100% with someone else’s fingerprint. This is why biometric authentication is one of the safest technologies.
The future of Biometric Authentication
We have all seen how amazingly great a journey it has been for biometric authentication technology so far. According to experts and various studies, its future is bright as the market is expected to post a CAGR of more than 15% from 2019 to 2023.
As we step towards digitization, it is very important for businesses and individuals across the world to put enough effort into securing and verifying our identities with passwords, IDs, smart cards, etc. Biometric authentication has been proven to be a great choice for better safety simply using our unique biometric characteristics. As this technology makes things easier for the users, it will also help reduce the burden of carrying and remembering passwords to make our digital identities incredibly secure.
Final Words
In the modern world, there has been noticed a massive acceptance of biometric authentication technology is not just the mobile devices for better safety, but also in the workplaces to allow access only to the authorized personnel. The growing demand for facial and fingerprint recognition to authenticate in smartphones has brought a revolution in biometric authentication technology, making it one of the most used and trusted methods for authentication in the modern world.
Users, as well as experts in the field, claim that this form of authentication provides a secure and user-friendly alternative to traditional security methods like a password.