Which Biometric Security Authorisation Is Best For You?

When people think of biometric security, they will often believe that their options are limited to fingerprint scanners attached to door locking systems, but biometrics includes a wide range of very different recognition technologies which will benefit some businesses more than others.

The principle of biometrics has historically been most commonly applied to fingerprints because they had already been used as part of forensic criminology for a century before the development of electronic automated fingerprint scanners and it is thus easy to adapt.

However, with so many biometric security systems available on the market today at affordable prices and with a remarkable level of robustness and sophistication, which ones are best for you?

Every biometric system has advantages and disadvantages which affect certain use cases more than others but here are some of the most common.

Fingerprint Scanners

The most familiar form of biometric security, the big advantage of fingerprint scanners is that everyone knows how to use them. Most people already know how to use them, they are easy to set up, relatively easy to maintain and there is a large maintenance and aftermarket system in place to support their use.

They also benefit from being particularly affordable due to their reliance on existing technology and security principles dating back over a century, when it was discovered that the ridges of a person’s fingertips are unique.

There are some caveats; they cannot be used in certain environments where people are expected to wear gloves such as cold weather stations and hazardous chemical facilities, and if someone is injured or has a temporary condition that causes their identifying fingers to swell, the scanner may not work.

Facial Recognition

In principle, facial recognition is the oldest form of biometrics, as people have been using physical descriptions to identify people for as long as there have been spoken languages and settlements large enough to where people do not know everyone.

They are very popular because whilst there are a lot of complicated aspects to their use in various security systems, they are fundamentally very easy to use. Your face is your key and all you need to do is be in a position for it to recognise your identifying features.

The problem is that it must be calibrated for the lighting conditions it is likely to be used in, as uneven and inconsistent light might cause the pattern recognition to get confused. They are as effective as the data entry and calibration process that is used to set up users.

Retina Scanners

Whilst relying on a fundamentally different technology, retina scanners function based on an approach that combines the unique biometric markers of fingerprints with the ease of use of facial recognition scanners.

They are reliable, fast and because no two people have the same iris and retinal patterns, they can be trusted to function effectively. It can also work in areas where facial recognition or fingerprint scanners cannot.

However, because they require a person to stare directly into the scanning device and have their face very close to the machinery, it can sometimes take a little longer to start a scan.