You’re running through an office building. Behind you are a group of masked men. What they want, who knows, but they’re just closing in…and fast. You zig-zag to the top of a stairwell where you’re greeted by a locked door. Next to the door is a reader that’s part of a biometric access control system. Lucky for you, your credentials are in the system. You press your thumb against the fingerprint scanner and the biometric system authenticates, opening the door. You leap in, away from the danger.
Biometrics, like the fingerprint scanner in the opening paragraph, are one of the newest forms of access control. These systems come in various types, offering businesses stronger security than metal keys and key cards. With biometric access control, security teams have an easier way of granting user access and giving a more convenient way to enter an office or building.
Although biometric technology is only used by 26% of surveyed businesses, an additional 33% stated they plan to test or implement a form of biometrics within the next five years. Let’s explore the trend, the benefits and drawbacks of biometric access control systems, and how artificial intelligence is already enhancing them.
In this Article
- Definition: What is a Biometric Access Control System?
- Why Businesses Choose Biometric Access Control
- 4 Types of Biometric Access Control Systems: Scanners and Door Locks
- Hybrid Biometrics: Two-Factor Authentication
- Behavioral Biometrics: How AI is Impacting Access Control
- Installing a Biometric Access Control System
What is a Biometric Access Control System?
A biometric access control system manages entry to a property by scanning one or more biological features of a user and using it to verify access permission.
Sound complicated? Imagine your smartphone is your commercial or residential property. To unlock your smartphone you might scan your fingerprint or eye. It’s the same with access control. You unlock your door with a physical characteristic instead of a keycard or key fob.
Why Businesses Choose Biometric Access Control
When choosing a key card, mobile credential, or biometric access control system several factors should be considered. These include security priorities, operational needs, and user convenience.
| Biometric Access Control System | Key Card Access Control System |
| Security | Better: Biometric access control systems rely on unique user characteristics and can’t be shared or transferred. | Good: Key cards can be shared, though mobile credentials make sharing less common. |
| Safety | Better: Biometric access credentials cannot be duplicated or lost. | Good: Can be lost, misplaced, or cloned. Offers better security than a metal key. |
| Remote Provisioning | Good: Biometrics require meeting in-person to enter a new user into the system. | Better: Digital keycards can be distributed to smartphones with just an internet signal. |
| User Convenience | Better: Users don’t have to worry about carrying an extra device or key. | Good: With mobile access control, users can save their credentials on their smartphone. |
1. Higher Security and Anti-Sharing Protection
Biometric security systems verify identity using physical traits, such as fingerprints, facial recognition, or iris scans. Consequently, this makes biometric credentials very secure and nearly impossible to clone or share. Unlike key cards, which can be passed between people, biometric data is tied to one individual.
2. No Extra Device or Card
With biometrics, users don’t need to remember to carry a key card or charge their phone. The user is the credential. This can also improve efficiency in high-security areas where quick entry is required.
3. Stronger Identity Verification in Sensitive Areas
Since biometrics are directly connected to a person, they make fooling the access control system nearly impossible. As a result, these credentials are often chosen for work environments with highly sensitive data such as research labs, healthcare facilities, or data centers.
Overall, when maximum security is necessary, biometric access control systems are ideal. However, key cards and mobile credentials may still be a better fit for remote security or large-scale user management.
4 Types of Biometric Access Control Systems: Scanners and Door Locks
Several forms of biometric access control exist. As mentioned earlier, fingerprint locks and retinal scanners are the most common.
- Retinal Scanner Door Locks
- Iris Scanner
- Palm Vein Scanner
- Fingerprint Door Locks
1. Retinal Scanner Door Lock
How Retina Scanners Work: Retinal scanners detect and analyze blood vessels in a person’s eye. To initiate authentication, users place their eye near the retinal reader. The reader sends a signal to detect the retina’s unique pattern, then it sends the data to the controller. If the access control database has a match, access is granted and the door unlocks.
Benefits: Retinal scanner door locks have a low occurrence of false positives and false negatives.
Drawbacks: As with other forms of biometric access control, many users think biometric data collection jeopardizes privacy. Additionally, the accuracy can be affected by changes in a user’s eye, like a blood vessel bursting or an astigmatism.
2. Iris Scanner
How Iris Scanners Work: Iris scanners or iris recognition grant users access in much the same way as retinal scanners. However, iris scanners use video and subtle infrared rays to detect structures in the iris. The technology then sends details of the iris to the database where permissions are automatically searched at speeds measured in the millions of images per second per (single-core) CPU.
Benefits: Iris scanners are fast and have the most scanning accuracy.
Drawbacks: Iris scanners have difficulty taking precise images from greater than one or two meters away. Additionally, though the technology is improving, iris scanners have trouble telling a real iris from a high-quality picture.
3. Palm Vein Scanner
How Palm Vein Scanners Work: Palm vein scanners grant users access by mapping the unique vein patterns inside their hand. For entry, users show their palm to the palm vein scanner near the door. It shines near-infrared light, capturing the pattern of hemoglobin within the user’s blood vessels. A built-in sensor captures this pattern, encrypts it, and sends it to the access control database. The system then compares it to stored templates to verify identity.
Benefits: Palm vein scanners are highly secure and hygienic. Since palm veins are internal to the body, duplicating or stealing is nearly impossible. Further, palm veins remain stable over a person’s lifetime, even if the skin changes.
Drawbacks: Users must be enrolled in person since vein patterns can’t be captured remotely. Hardware is generally more expensive than key card or fingerprint systems.
4. Fingerprint Door Locks
How Fingerprint Door Locks Work: Thanks to Hollywood, fingerprint door locks are perhaps the most well-known biometric entry systems. Fingerprints are scanned at the entrance by placing a finger (or several) on the scanner, a sensor captures a detailed image of the fingerprint. If there’s a match within the set tolerance range, the lock disengages to grant entry.
Benefits: Fingerprint scanners are the most widely available. They are usually less expensive than other biometric systems.
Drawbacks: Fingerprint scanners aren’t fool-proof, and some low-quality sensors can be tricked with lifted prints. Additionally, fingerprint scanners require contact and may be a turn-off for germaphobes. Cuts, abrasions, or dirt on the finger can interfere with accuracy.
As credential type plays a key part in any successful security program, make sure you discuss the pros and cons of biometric security with stakeholders and end users. A little feedback from key people will go a long way in ensuring success.
Hybrid Biometric Access Control: Two-Factor Authentication
As the earlier section detailed, biometrics are in many ways the most secure form of access control. But for the hospitals, data storage facilities, and anywhere else that needs failsafe security, there is even more you can do.
Hybrid biometrics combine a form of biometric security with another access control method. For example, we mentioned that fingerprints can be lifted and used to trick fingerprint door locks. With hybrid biometrics, even if an employee’s fingerprints get swiped, the culprit would still need a second form of ID (e.g. a key card or PIN) to gain access.
So what kinds of hybrid systems exist? Here’s a list:
- Retinal scanner door lock and keycard (or key fob)
- Fingerprint scanner and mobile credentials
- Iris scanner and PIN keypad
- Multi-biometric system (e.g. retina and palm vein)
Ever heard the phrase “two heads are better than one?” That applies to door entry systems as well. Sometimes biometric door locks just need a little boost.
Behavioral Biometric Access Control: The Impact of AI
What if your biometric door reader knew you were trying to gain access based on how you interacted with it? What if it knew you based on how hard you pressed your finger or the movement of your eye? Artificial intelligence (AI) is helping technology developers take biometric security to this next level.
Behavioral Biometrics
Behavioral biometric access control uses AI to recognize users based on how they interact with a device. Unlike traditional biometric access control methods that rely on static identifiers such as fingerprints, behavioral biometrics analyze the unique ways we interact with devices. Behavioral biometrics include:
- How you hold a device
- Typing rhythms
- Swipe gestures
- How you navigate apps
This approach means the system adapts to your behavior – continuously adjusting to your subtleties. With AI’s ability to analyze vast amounts of real-time data, identify patterns, and predict anomalies, it can improve security. These patterns are more challenging for bad actors to replicate than a keycard. However, AI and behavioral biometrics come with concerns, especially regarding data privacy.
Biometric Access Control System Installation
Looking for a painless biometric access control installation? With over 30 years of industry experience, SafeTouch can help you assess, purchase, and install a system that’s right for you. Looking for a way to monitor your security without hiring security guards? Our trained monitoring staff will keep an eye on your property 24/7. And with a guaranteed response time of 45 seconds or less, we’ll always have your back. Give us a call at 888.895.SAFE (7233) to speak with a SafeTouch expert today!