Biometrics represents a robust mechanism for automatically recognizing or identifying and capitalizing on the distinctive physical or behavioral characteristics inherent to individuals. Consider the compelling advantages of using biometric identifiers such as fingerprints, facial features, voice recognition, or even a person’s signature. These characteristics are unique and difficult to forge, which is why biometrics is considered a particularly secure authentication method.
Biometric authentication methods are becoming increasingly attractive to many companies because they protect access securely and are in a user-friendly manner. This applies to computers as well as building and office or workshop access. In addition, more and more users are also using biometric authentication methods in their private lives to access their mobile devices and online accounts.
The popularity of biometric processes among consumers has led to biometrics becoming more popular in consumer products and across a diverse range of sectors within organizations. This makes sense, because in addition to security, user-friendliness also plays a decisive role. The often-difficult task of remembering hundreds of passwords is eliminated, and there is no longer any need to carry hardware tokens around in the corporate environment.
While the adoption of biometric procedures offers numerous benefits, it’s crucial to address the accompanying concerns about data protection, technical implementation, and potential misuse.
How Biometrics Works
Biometric systems are based on a simple but technically sophisticated principle and work in three steps:
- Capture: A reading or scanning device captures a biometric characteristic, such as a facial scan or fingerprint.
- Initial setup: To use the biometric feature, the user must first store their individual characteristic, such as by positioning their finger on the sensor of a fingerprint scanner to permit the scanning process. The system captures a digital image of the finger and transforms it into a biometric template. This template is then stored within an encrypted database.
- Regular use: Once the biometric template has been created, the user can then authenticate themselves using their individual characteristic.
- Feature recognition: Software extracts characteristic data (e.g., points, patterns, relationships) from the raw image. This data is subjected to a mathematical transformation, resulting in what is referred to as a “biometric template” creating a unique digital fingerprint of the feature.
- Comparison and decision (authentication): If the user wants to gain access by logging in, they must authenticate themselves. In this process, the biometrically derived template, which has been previously and securely stored within a database, is compared against the currently presented biometric characteristic. If the data matches (or is within a defined tolerance range), access is granted. Typically, the comparison is executed either on the device itself or within a protected segment of the information technology infrastructure. Encryption and secure hardware make misuse difficult.
For example, the finger is scanned with the fingerprint scanner and the image is compared with the template stored during registration.
It is therefore not a simple photo, but a structured, anonymized data pattern that is used for comparison. To ensure the highest level of security and efficiency, biometric data is either stored in a central database or collected locally, where it undergoes cryptographic encryption.
Biometric Characteristics and Procedures
Biometric characteristics are fundamentally grounded in three distinct components, making them a highly reliable and secure method for identification. Firstly, they are genetically determined and therefore partially inheritable. Secondly, their emergence is predicated upon stochastic processes, thus rendering them randotypical. Thirdly, they are behavior-driven, conditioned, partly learned, but also partly changeable.
Nowadays, a distinction is made between physiological and behavioral biometric characteristics.
Physiological Characteristics
Physiological characteristics (passive characteristics of a user) are physically identifiable, generally do not change much, and can be measured relatively reliably. These include:
- Fingerprint
- Facial recognition
- Iris or retina pattern
- Hand geometry
- DNA (rarely used in everyday life)
Behavioral Characteristics
Behavioral characteristics (physical and cognitive behavior of a user), on the other hand, are more dynamic and can vary slightly depending on the user’s mood or environment. However, they are still suitable for supplementary authentication, especially in combination with other methods. Behavioral characteristics include:
- Voice (speech recognition)
- Signature
- Typing behavior on the keyboard
- Gait patterns
- Mouse movements
Not all of the methods mentioned above are suitable for practical use. Among the conventional methods currently employed are fingerprint scanning and facial recognition through camera technology. Iris and palm scanners are also used in particularly secure environments (e.g., laboratories, data centers).
Depending on security requirements and the area of application, a company can decide which technology best suits its needs. Fingerprint and facial recognition technology have become essential tools in today’s workplace, primarily because they are incredibly easy to integrate into existing systems.
Advantages of Biometric Methods
Biometric authentication methods offer many advantages. They are particularly impressive due to their high level of convenience for employees and end users. This is because they no longer need to remember passwords. Another factor in favor of the user-friendliness of the method is the speed of biometric authentication, which works in a fraction of a second without the need for additional aids such as cards, keys, or PINs. This not only speeds up every day processes but also reduces the risk of insecure or forgotten access data.
Furthermore, biometric characteristics are difficult to copy or pass on. These attributes are distinctive and, particularly with regard to physical traits, prove to be indelible. By substantially diminishing the likelihood of identity theft, this measure provides you with increased assurance and security.
In addition, access can be restricted to authorized persons, which is particularly important for sensitive data or areas. This also prevents employees from accidentally revealing access data and passwords in a phishing attack.
Disadvantages of Biometric Methods
Yet, biometric authentication methods also have their limitations. Although they are generally more secure than traditional authentication methods such as usernames and passwords, they are not foolproof.
To make biometric authentication methods user-friendly and suitable for everyday use, partial feature matches are often sufficient, for example in fingerprint scanners on smartphones. However, if the finger is wet or dirty, this can lead to difficulties in recognition by the fingerprint sensors. At the same time, biometric features such as fingerprints can become more difficult to recognize with age. Alternatively, facial recognition may be limited in poor lighting conditions or when wearing medical masks. The above examples illustrate that deviations from ideal conditions can easily lead to failed attempts.
The management of biometric data is of particular sensitivity from a data protection standpoint, given that biometric data is particularly worthy of protection under the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Consider this: while stolen passwords can be easily reset or replaced, your unique face or fingerprint is irreplaceable. Biometric authentication systems can be hacked, and hackers can falsify biometric data.
Implementing robust biometric authentication solutions significantly enhances security, and while it often accompanies more advanced system landscapes that might require upgrades, the investment is worthwhile. The increased protection of these systems justifies the associated costs, ensuring your data and assets remain secure in an increasingly digital world.
Biometric Authentication Methods and Data Protection
The use of biometric data is subject to strict legal regulations in Europe. Pursuant to the General Data Protection Regulation, biometric data is categorized as “special categories of personal data,” which underscores its sensitivity and importance. It’s essential to recognize that processing this type of data is only legitimate when there is a solid legal foundation or when the individual has explicitly consented.
It’s crucial to understand that only biometric templates are stored, not the raw data itself. Care must be taken to ensure that this data is ideally stored locally, encrypted, and protected against unauthorized access. It should be clearly documented why the data is being collected, how long it will be retained, and the parties authorized to access it.
In companies, it makes sense to involve employees at an early stage and to communicate openly about the purpose, functionality, and advantages of biometric authentication procedures. This creates trust and increases acceptance. It is essential that when an employee departs from the company, their biometric data is securely and thoroughly deleted.
Identification or Verification
Biometric authentication systems are essential for modern security, offering a reliable and efficient way to verify and identify individuals for access control. Depending on how biometric characteristics and features are compared, there are differences between verification and identification.
During identification, the data collected by the sensor or scanner is compared with many reference data sets in a one-to-many comparison. If the system finds a certain match with a specific data set, the person who has just been scanned by the sensor is considered identified. Before the scan, the system does not know who the person is. Only once the person has been identified do they become known.
Verification is a process designed to confirm the authenticity of an individual’s asserted identity. To do this, the system performs a 1-to-1 comparison, which can only result in true or false.
Conclusion
Biometric authentication methods offer companies modern, secure, and convenient methods for access control and user identification. Replacing passwords with unique characteristics like fingerprints or facial recognition is a smart move, especially for mobile devices and physical access systems. This results in compelling benefits such as user-friendliness, efficiency, and protection against misuse.
At the same time, companies must also ensure the security and privacy of biometric data. It may only be stored and processed with a clear legal basis and the express consent of the person concerned and requires compliance with technical and organizational measures (TOMs).
In summary, it can be said that responsibly used biometric authentication methods not only improve security in the company, but also simplify work processes, making them more effective, secure, and future proof.