Biometrics

The rapid scientific development and advanced information technology have led Biometrics to a new next level that is already garnering a lot of traction across industries. Biometric technologies are capable of measuring physiological characteristics. Biometric identification systems are automated methods for identifying a person based on physical or behavioral characteristics. The physical characteristics that can be used for biometric solutions cannot be transferred easily from one person to another. 

Biometrics can deliver a reasonable level of buoyancy in authenticating a person with less friction for the user. The technology has the potential to dramatically boost enterprise security. In a survey from Ping Identity, the leader in Identity Defined Security, a majority of enterprises, 92 percent, prioritize biometric authentication as an effective or very effective to secure identity data stored on premises, while 86 percent perceived it as effective for safeguarding data stored in a public cloud.

In the cybersecurity industry, the use of biometrics for online authentication is gaining heights, as over 90 percent of organizations will be deploying this tech by 2020. The key enablers of biometrics in the current business landscape are growing trust in new technologies and biometrics-friendly devices. Physical biometric techniques are growing significantly, majorly thanks to their convenient way for consumers to validate themselves, and they can be leveraged on different devices like smartphones, tablets, and computers. 

Physical biometrics generally involves fingerprint scanners, facial recognition, hand geometry recognition, iris scanners, voice recognition, and palm-vein recognition. For years, computerized fingerprint scanners have been a mainstay of spy thrillers. But in recent times, they have become exciting technology in the real world, leading to the development of touchless fingerprint scanners. 

At MWC 2018, French company Idemia introduced a new method of fingerprint scanning that doesn’t involve any touching at all. It just requires a user to move his/her hand over a scanner, holding it about an inch away from its surface, and several cameras below the scanner’s surface shoot videos of their moving hand from various angles. Afterward, a machine learning algorithm creates a 3D model of a user’s fingers.

Biometrics and Knowledge Management

With advanced pattern recognition technology, it has now become easier to make real-time face verification and fingerprint identification. The human brain, most of the time, is engaged in processing and assessing of visual elements, meaning that the images are processed before the text, and require less energy for processing. The main intent of knowledge management is to make knowledge visible so that it could be easily accessed, discussed and managed. Visualization of knowledge refers to not only the transfer of facts, but the transfer of experiences, attitudes, values, expectations, perspectives, opinions and predictions, that enable others to appropriately re-enact and apply those experiences.

Behavioral Biometrics

Behavioral biometric techniques are a unique approach which typically being used along with another method owing to lower reliability. Behavioral biometric verification methods encompass keystroke dynamics, gait analysis, voice ID, mouse use characteristics, signature analysis and cognitive biometrics. This biometric system is used for secure authentication in the field of financial institutions, businesses, governmental functions and retail point of sale (POS), together with an increasing number of other environments.

As technology improves continuously, behavioral biometrics may evolve significantly. Unlike physical biometrics that are limited to a certain fixed set of human characteristics, behavioral biometrics has only the limitation of the human imagination. Behavioral biometrics can often be gleaned with existing hardware, requiring only software for analysis.

In a crux, biometric technologies are placed uniquely to recognize a person by analyzing and distinguishing their biological traits. In order to maintain and ensure the security of online and offline fraudulence, the technologies are very effective in today’s digital age.