Biometric access control in government: strengthening national security

By 2022, more than 80% of smartphones had biometric security features enabled on them [1] . This technology is all around us, and will only become more common. Since 2019, the global biometric authentication and identification market is forecasted to grow at 14.6% annually. By 2027, that will mean this sector is worth almost US$100 billion globally [2] .

In Defence Secretary Grant Shapps’ recent speech, he stated that “the world is becoming more dangerous” and the combination of threats we face “risk tearing apart the rules-based international order”[3] . Governments around the world are constantly looking for technologies to improve their security to protect against these ever-changing dangers.

This blog post will explore the importance of biometric access control in government security. It will look at the role biometrics plays in safeguarding government premises and assets, as well as the possible future of this technology in national security.

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Understanding biometric access control

Biometric access control is a method of restricting who can enter certain buildings or areas using people’s physical characteristics to verify their identity. People register one or more of their unique biometric data points in the system. Only people who present a valid data point to the system are granted access to the restricted area.

Types of biometric access control

There are a range of different types of biometric data available and in common use today. Fingerprints are the most common format, followed by facial recognition looking at the shape, size, and relative location of your facial features. In addition, some biometric systems use voice recognition, handprints, or iris patterns to identify individuals.

How biometric authentication works

Broadly speaking, biometric security systems follow three key stages: identification, authentication, and validation. Identification is the initial scanning of the fingerprint, iris, or other datapoint. In this stage, a live image is captured and analysed closely by the biometric system. Authentication is the comparison of the captured data with the existing database. This is when the system ascertains whether the person is a registered user or not. If they are indeed registered, the system moves on to validation. In this phase, the system checks whether the user has the appropriate permissions to access the door at which they have presented themselves.

Biometrics in government

One of the key benefits of biometrics is its inherently higher level of security compared to traditional access control methods such as swipe cards and PIN codes. A person cannot drop, forget, lose, disclose, or have stolen their physical features. In addition, biometric data is extremely difficult to fake, clone, or steal. For governments, high security is essential. As such, when governments are looking to upgrade physical security, biometrics is a natural and worthy choice.

For high security premises, biometric access control contributes to ensuring that only authorised individuals can enter restricted areas. It is relatively easy for an intruder to steal a swipe card or persuade someone to disclose a PIN code. The same is not true of a fingerprint reader or face recognition scanner. The actual user must be physically present in person to use the system and gain access to sensitive areas and assets. In terms of national security, biometric access control systems help to protect against espionage, theft, and even terrorism.

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Benefits of implementing biometric access control in government

Better accuracy and reliability

Biometric solutions offer a level of accuracy and reliability over and above that of traditional access control systems. They analyse minuscule details of fingerprints, irises, and facial features to validate individuals. For example, the ievo ultimate? fingerprint reader uses nine different sources of light to identify up to a hundred different datapoints in the patterns of the fingertip.

In addition, many systems offer customisable acceptance thresholds within the biometric ID system. Most systems set the standard acceptance threshold at 95%. This means if 95% of the captured datapoints match a record in the database, the user is granted access. The higher the acceptance threshold, the more datapoints have to match exactly to be considered a valid user. ?For higher security premises, that rate can be set to 99% or even 100%. This will likely result in a higher false rejection rate, but at the same time, increases the robustness of the system’s security. The higher that threshold, the less likely it is that an unauthorised person will be incorrectly granted access to restricted government premises.

Greater convenience and efficiency

In any access control system, the administrators must strike a balance between security and convenience. Generally, the higher the level of security, the less convenient an access system is. For example, it often takes a lot longer for an individual to validate themselves at a door secured by a highly complex, highly secure system. However, biometric solutions offer a strong combination of both.

The convenience of a biometric access control system lies in the fact that biometric credentials aren’t something you need to have or know. They are something you are. So you don’t need to remember to bring a swipe card or lanyard to use the system. You also don’t need to memorise a keypad code or password. You simply show up, and your fingerprints or facial features are all you need to gain access.

Long-term cost-effectiveness

Thanks to the inherent convenience of biometric access control, there is scope for significant long-term savings over the lifetime of the system. With a traditional access control solution, there are ongoing and regular costs associated to the administration. Replacing lost, damaged, or stolen cards or fobs costs money. Administrators spending time organising credentials, monitoring the system, and countering bad practices such as card sharing costs money.

Biometric systems eliminate the need for many of these costs. There’s no cards or fobs to replace. Once a person’s fingerprint, iris pattern, or face is registered in a system, it is highly unlikely that they’ll have to re-register or engage with the administration again. In addition, the greater inherent security of biometric systems means security officers in a building benefit from greater peace of mind. There is less need for them to manually monitor the system and the building, leaving them free to focus on higher-value tasks.

Biometrics for government buildings

Government buildings must be robustly protected environments. The people, assets, and data held within them are too nationally important to compromise on security. In a world which is facing constantly evolving cyber threats, biometric access control provides a powerful solution to keeping government premises safe.

Whether it’s fingerprints, iris patterns, facial recognition, or another form of biometric security, these systems offer significant benefits for governments. High-quality biometric scanning products are extremely accurate and reliable. They provide robust security in combination with a level of convenience that allows government employees to go about their day safely and easily. And finally, in a long-term view, they give governments an opportunity to make vital cost savings.

Our government premises face threats on two fronts: physical and cyber security. A well-designed biometric access control system combats both types of threat.

To discuss your government building’s needs for better security,

?? book a meeting with our biometrics expert today