What are the best practices and standards for iris recognition in insurance?

1 Benefits of iris recognition

Iris recognition offers several advantages over other biometric methods, such as fingerprints, face, or voice recognition. It is more accurate, reliable, and stable, as the iris does not change over time, except for rare cases of injury or disease. It is also more hygienic, contactless, and convenient, as it does not require physical contact, special lighting, or user cooperation. For the insurance industry, these features mean that iris recognition can provide faster, safer, and more personalized services to customers, while reducing operational costs and risks.

2 Challenges of iris recognition

Despite its benefits, iris recognition also faces some challenges and limitations that need to be addressed. One of the main challenges is the privacy and security of the biometric data collected and stored by the insurance providers. Customers may have concerns about how their data is used, shared, and protected, and what rights they have over their own biometric information. Another challenge is the interoperability and compatibility of the iris recognition systems and devices used by different insurance providers and partners. Customers may need to enroll and verify their iris with multiple systems, which can be inconvenient and inconsistent. A third challenge is the user acceptance and adoption of iris recognition as a trusted and preferred method of identification and verification. Customers may have preferences, biases, or misconceptions about iris recognition, and may need education and awareness to understand its benefits and use cases.

3 Standards and guidelines

To overcome these challenges and ensure the quality and performance of iris recognition in insurance, there are some standards and guidelines that the industry can follow. One of the most important standards is ISO/IEC 19794-6, which specifies the data format and quality requirements for iris images. This standard helps to ensure the interoperability and compatibility of iris recognition systems and devices, and to facilitate the exchange and verification of iris data. Another important standard is ISO/IEC 30107-3, which defines the methods and metrics for testing and reporting the presentation attack detection (PAD) capabilities of biometric systems. PAD is the ability to detect and prevent spoofing attacks, such as using fake or altered iris images or devices. This standard helps to ensure the security and reliability of iris recognition systems and devices, and to prevent fraud and identity theft.

4 Best practices and tips

In addition to following the standards and guidelines, the insurance industry can optimize the use of iris recognition by employing best practices and tips. For instance, combining iris recognition with a multi-factor authentication scheme (something you are, something you have, and something you know) can increase security and convenience. Additionally, a customer-centric design that takes into account customer needs and preferences can improve customer experience and satisfaction. Furthermore, a risk-based approach that adjusts verification and validation according to risk level can help balance the trade-off between security and convenience. Finally, a continuous improvement process that monitors, evaluates, and updates iris recognition systems and devices regularly can improve quality and performance.

5 Future trends and opportunities

Iris recognition is an evolving technology that has many potential applications and benefits for the insurance industry. In the future, it could be integrated with other biometric modalities, blockchain technology, and AI/ML to create a multimodal biometric system with improved accuracy, privacy, security, trust, and personalization. This system could provide more reliable identification and verification, decentralized identity, and customized services and offers.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?