Biometrics are everywhere these days with fingerprints, retina, facial recognition, and DNA all used to determine the identity of an individual.
When creating a security system, the unique nature of biometrics makes them far more secure than a simply password or lock and key system and are being adopted by technology companies and security firms across the globe.
Biometrics are here now, and they’re here to stay, whatever your opinion on them may be but what exactly are the pros and cons of biometrics becoming such an integral part of the modern world?
Pros of biometrics
Biometrics keep us safe
If you work somewhere that is protected by physical access control powered by biometrics, you can be confident that it is near impossible for any unauthorised individual to gain access to the site.
This will give you tremendous peace of mind and let you get on with your work in peace. As an employer, boosting your security through the introduction of biometrics can improve productivity and employee satisfaction.
Almost impossible to fake
Fake IDs and stolen access codes are a constant threat to any property without biometrics which are pretty much impossible to fake thanks to the unique characteristics of each individual.
They cannot be shared they cannot be stolen and are the single most effective security tool in the modern world as a result.
Self-sufficient
Whilst some companies choose to have a security guard monitor their biometric systems, this is not a necessity.
These systems are perfectly capable of operating independent of human assistance.
If you only have a limited budget and want to create as cost-effective a security system as possible there are very few single security measures that offer better value for money than a biometric access control system.
Easy to operate
When people hear the term biometrics, they often get a little bit wary and assume that there will be all sorts of technical knowledge required to use such a system. The opposite is actually true and these systems are remarkable easy to operate. All the programming and hard work will have been done long before your spanking new access control gate or lock arrives on your site.
Cons of biometrics
The main negative of biometrics in many people’s eyes is the privacy implications of having your own unique personal characteristics programmed into a system.
Privacy
It is of the upmost importance that your cyber security is top-notch when you install a biometric access control system. If the system is hacked the personal information of your staff may be compromises and you open yourself up to all sorts of legal complications.
Errors
The risk of an error with a modern biometric access control system is remarkably low, but this is technology that we are talking about, and the chances are never zero.
That said, errors are unlikely to cause a security breach as the systems are designed to shut down in the event of an issue so the worst that will normally happen is a bit of inconvenience.
