Is the time right to implement biometric technology? Peter Goodenough, managing director of HI SEC UK, looks at the advantages and disadvantages of biometric security systems.
When it comes to biometric systems, Hollywood has a lot to answer for. Imagine, for a moment, that you are a villain, and you urgently need to break into to a highly secured building which uses biometrics. In the world of film you have several options, apparently: use BluTac or candle wax to copy the security guard’s finger print, or if you’ve neglected to pack these essential materials; sever the security guard finger.
Security guards everywhere will be happy to know that these urban myths are simply not true; in real life, biometric technology is eminently more advanced. The HI SEC biometric security system, for example, checks for blood supply when scanning a fingerprint, preventing an intruder gaining entry under morbid circumstances. Hollywood may spin a good story, but the reality of biometrics is far more intriguing.
A biometric solution is effectively a ‘chip and biometric PIN’, as the image scanned is translated into a series of digits unique to the individual. For HI SEC customers, these unique digital codes are then stored on the state-of-the-art Mifare card, rather than the central company database. When people pass through security check points, their biometric scan is compared to the data held on the card.
The advantages are significant. You do not slow down the IT system by trying to access in real time hundreds of codes stored centrally. There are also no data protection issues to address, because personal employee data is not held on the central system, but on each employee’s card.
Furthermore, if, in the worst case scenario, a hacker managed to gain entry into the company database, there is no master list of entry codes to steal. If a card is lost, then it is immediately rendered useless to anyone except the original owner; a thief or opportunist cannot extract the biometric PIN details from the Mifare card and translate the code back into an image, such as a fingerprint. The coding process is one way only ‘image to number’ making the biometric solution even more attractive.
However, there are some disadvantages to biometrics solutions. Businesses looking for a biometric security solution have a choice of three main options: handprint scans, retina scans, and fingerprint scans. With handprint scanner come the issues of hygiene. When you have dozens of people putting their hands on the scanners, you can imagine the level of dirt, sweat and germs that would congregate by 10am each morning, resulting in a frequent cleaning and disinfection schedule. Handprints also generate a high level of digital details, and demand more memory space on smart cards.
Many companies are also hesitant to implement retina scanning, due to the yet unknown health issues in relation to the laser beam used in the scanning process. It is also an expensive option to consider, and can be slow to operate; frustrating when you have a queue of people waiting to pass through the security check. Fingerprint scanning overcomes many of these issues: it is low maintenance, introduces far fewer health issues, and yet still enables a business to implement the most secure security system available today. For these reasons, fingerprint scanning is our preferred solution at HI SEC, and the one we supply to our customers across the UK, Europe and beyond.
Even so, do businesses really need the luxury of a biometric security system? I suspect the majority do not. While biometrics is undoubtedly the way forward and a necessary part of businesses requiring the ultimate security solution, such as banks, airports, government buildings, our Chip and PIN solution can already offer many of the required security features. A unique PIN, known only to the individual employee, is stored, access and used in exactly the same way as the biometric PIN. So, why pay more for something you do not need? Perhaps the true beauty of biometrics lies in the peace of mind it offers security professionals, CTOs and business leaders.
