Biometric Authentication Systems for Identification, Authentication and Verification.

Biometric authentication is a method used to identify you based upon your unique biological characteristics, such as fingerprints. Using biometrics in access control systems is rapidly becoming more popular. Biometric access control systems are used to compare your biometrics to an earlier stored data version. If both versions of characteristics match, the biometric authentication system can confirm authentication, verifying you are you. This form of access control is mostly used to manage access to physical and digital assets and to secure buildings, rooms and computing devices.

Conventional access methods have their weaknesses – cards can be stolen, pins or keys can be forgotten. Biometric authentication systems use your biological traits, and so biometric devices can come in any of these forms:

• Eyes – iris scanners
• Eyes – retina scanners
• Fingerprint readers
• Hand geometry readers
• Facial recognition scanners
• Vein recognition scanners

The system behind the biometric authentication device stores data from all authorised users. In this case, a signature containing your identity, job role and unique biometrics. Once you have registered, the physical security entrance will read your biometric signature, compare it to the stored version and grant you access. Based upon your job role, the system can grant or deny access to certain areas of a building.

A biometric device provides the biggest benefit when it is integrated with a security portal. This unique security entrance has been trusted to protect data centres and other sensitive locations across the globe. Here is how a high security portal works with biometrics:

• A user presents a credential outside the portal. This could be an access card or biological trait.
• Once inside the portal an overhead sensor system verifies that the person inside is alone.
• After the first door closes, an internal biometric device verifies that the person who presented their credential outside the portal is the same person inside the portal now.
• Once confirmation is granted, the second set of doors open to allow the user into the secure area.
• Why is this method of dual authentication so effective? Imagine this scenario. An employee’s husband decides to drive to your facility. He is determined to confront one of his wife’s colleagues. With his wife’s access badge in hand, he steps up to the portal, presents her credentials, and enters the door. The portal verifies that he is alone. An interior biometric device is the difference between this unauthorised person getting to his wife’s colleague, and not. How does it work?
• The biometric device is capable of detecting two things in this scenario: (1) the husband is not enrolled in the biometric system and (2) even if he was enrolled, his biometrics do not match the on-file biometrics of the badge owner. 

In short, it is much harder for the husband to steal his wife’s eyes, fingerprint, face, etc. to gain access to the building.