The use of biometric technology has completely changed the way we verify our identities in order to obtain necessary services. Users now have to go through several verification processes in order to access healthcare facilities or open bank accounts. This increases security and guarantees authorised access.
However, not every user has the same preference for biometrics. For some users, biometrics can be a barrier due to privacy concerns or cultural or religious constraints; this could be the main obstacle to the widespread adoption of biometrics. But biometrics is the authentication of the future, and it’s becoming more and more ingrained in our daily lives.
Sabrina Gross, Regional Director of Strategic Partnerships at Veridas, explores the advantages of biometric technology and how universal access to it can be achieved.
Importance of biometric authentication
Organisations are starting to realise that traditional verification methods—like security questions and passwords—no longer offer strong enough defences against online attackers. The human element is involved in almost 74% of breaches that occur these days, and these breaches include social engineering attacks that compromise login credentials and passwords.
Nonetheless, biometric information is associated with a distinct physical identity for every person, making it considerably more difficult for malicious actors to utilise. For this reason, biometric authentication is more convenient and safe because it only requires the user’s face or voice rather than lengthy text strings to be remembered.
Beyond security, biometric technology improves verification procedures with efficiency and confidence. For instance, facial recognition greatly shortens lines at airports, enhancing the boarding experience.
Picking the right biometric solution
There are numerous contexts and settings in which various biometric technologies flourish. For example, facial recognition performs well in noisy environments. Facial biometrics, however, might not be appropriate for people whose cultural or religious beliefs forbid it. Similarly, not every client feels at ease utilising it. Furthermore, fingerprint biometrics might not be the best option because it needs specialised equipment or because it is unsafe for people’s health and safety.
As a result, voice biometrics stands out as a unique substitute for traditional methods of ensuring safe and easy authentication. Voice biometrics is accessible to older generations who may not have a mobile phone or internet connection because it doesn’t require specialised equipment or technology—all you need is a landline. Additionally, voice authentication can be performed passively, which lowers barriers to entry and improves user-friendliness.
When it comes to biometrics, the significance of choice cannot be overstated. Sabrina Gross emphasises the crucial aspect of true inclusivity, reminding us that it encompasses the freedom to make choices. Layers of prejudice and potential discrimination are eliminated by this flexibility. Businesses should provide users with a variety of identity verification choices that are suitable for various situations.
Voice authentication is an excellent solution, but there is no right or wrong answer. It is more important to combine various biometric techniques to offer a genuinely reliable, safe, and comprehensive authentication process. In addition to reaching a wider audience of users, having multiple options actively promotes adoption. If a method suits their comfort and convenience, customers are more likely to choose biometric verification.
Key considerations for business biometric integration
Integrating biometrics into current security frameworks needs to be done with great care. Striking a balance between robust security and usability is crucial. Everyone should have easy access to biometric services, including senior citizens and tech-savvy millennials.
Businesses ought to choose suppliers who provide several biometric verification options. This guarantees a more cohesive security posture and streamlines the integration process. To ensure efficacy and dependability, it is advantageous to choose suppliers who have undergone thorough independent evaluations, such as those conducted by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
The general public still views biometrics with some mistrust and misinformation. The public will have more faith and confidence in the field of biometrics if biometric technology is based on adherence to legal, technical, and ethical standards. Technically speaking, biometric solutions should be added to current security procedures without requiring a complete redesign. Thus, companies ought to spend money on solutions that facilitate simple integration and make use of cutting-edge features like artificial intelligence and machine learning.
And last, the public’s acceptance is greatly influenced by transparency. Companies need to be transparent about the ways in which they gather, store, and use voice data. Building trust is a necessary step in this process, which goes beyond simple technical integration.
The biometric authentication market
The global biometric authentication and identification market was estimated to be worth a substantial $4,135 million in 2022, based on recent market research. However, this is only the start. Forecasts indicate that this amount will soar to an incredible $14,225 million by 2030. This remarkable growth, indicated by a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 16.7%, highlights the growing confidence and dependence that both consumers and industries place on biometric authentication solutions.
The main factors propelling the market growth are the growing demand for security and surveillance solutions in various application areas, as well as the increasing advancements in biometric technology across various sectors. Furthermore, the need for this technology will be fuelled in the near future by the expanding use of biometric systems in the consumer electronics, BFSI, and automotive verticals.
Also, there is an increasing use of biometric technology in consumer electronics for authentication and identification applications. In order to draw in more customers and grow their customer base, producers of consumer electronics, such as laptops, tablets, smartphones, and home automation systems, are eager to incorporate cutting-edge features and functionalities into their products. End users become more concerned about security as they use increasingly sophisticated connected devices and digital technologies to process vital information.
As a result, when it comes to accessing email accounts, bank accounts, and other personal data like financial and medical records, today’s consumers prefer to use devices that support biometric authentication. Similar to this, smartphones with biometric technology are being used more and more to secure credentials for entering doors, buildings, and IT systems. This improves user experience and opens up new business opportunities for companies that offer portable access control solutions. The demand for smartphones is currently boosted by all of these factors, and in the near future, we should expect to see a similar trend.
Also, substantial costs are associated with biometric systems. The demands of specialised applications in the public sector, banking, financial services, and insurance (BFSI), consumer electronics, automotive, and numerous other verticals are satisfied by biometric system providers. High capital expenditures are required for research and development, manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and shipping of the sophisticated biometric system.
High-performance biometric systems have hardware and software components (fingerprint readers, electronic locking systems, scanners, sensors, and cameras) that require expensive installation and upkeep. Modernised subcomponents and raw materials are needed for more advanced biometric technologies, which results in higher costs.
The costs of shipping, installation, and routine maintenance are the users’ responsibility. Thus, the market growth for biometric systems is hampered by the requirement for large capital investment. But given how quickly these advanced technologies are being adopted, it seems likely that prices will drop soon.
Advances in biometric solutions
Recent years have seen a major advancement in technology for biometric solutions. The widespread use of computers and mobile phones, along with advancements in sensing technologies, have created new avenues for collecting and analysing human physiological and behavioural data for biometric authentication.
Biometric systems driven by artificial intelligence and machine learning are opening up new avenues for efficiently identifying any anomalous behaviour and, if required, adding a second layer of authentication.
Multi-factor authentication biometric solutions are becoming more popular as a means of preventing potential data breaches. Biometric system manufacturers are driven to continually invest in research and development (R&D) activities in order to expand their portfolio of advanced biometric systems, as a result of the growing demand for contactless systems and the expansion of application areas.
Surely, in a world where security is paramount, biometric authentication is the future of secure access control.