02 Oct Biometric trends and the industries adopting the technology
2017 and early 2018 has seen a huge increase in companies and various sectors adopting biometric technology. Airports – with biometric-enabled passenger processing becoming commonplace at major airports – banking and the corporate sector have embraced biometric authentication to enhance security and employee safety. As such, we are seeing more industries – such as healthcare and even schools – look to increase their levels of security. As a result, we are sharing the future trends in biometrics and the growth of these particular markets.
How biometrics is changing the landscape
Our society has become increasing security conscious. The rise in sophisticated card breaches and skill levels of cyber-criminals has made the issue ever pressing. With biometric technology and authentication implemented in many companies and even airports, the idea of biometric security should not be a foreign concept. Instead, we are seeing more businesses embrace fingerprint security and the like, making for a smooth transition as the technology becomes more and more commonplace.
Traditional methods of authentication, such as PIN numbers and key cards, are slowly becoming outdated. In fact, many companies using PINs have seen millions lost to scams from shoulder surfing and phishing, which can prove potentially catastrophic. With everything else seemingly moving towards a digital platform, it is expected that security will do so too.
Biometric authentication provides heightened levels of security. For instance, fingerprint scanners are becoming so great, they can recognise a user’s fingerprints from wet, damaged, aged or dry skin. Biometric technology provides a clearer means to distinguish an individual and, therefore, will not only assist in one industry but transcend a great range of sectors.
Biometrics in healthcare
Certainly, one of the future trends in biometrics is within the healthcare industry. The increasing demand to address healthcare fraud and ensure patient privacy means that biometric authentication and technologies will prove a huge role in the industry moving forward. According to a Credence Report, biometrics in healthcare is already expanding and expected to increase by a staggering 22.9% between 2015 and 2025.
Biometric technology is deployed in many areas to identify hospital personnel and restrict user access to specific areas within the hospital. However, as we move forward and we witness the advances within biometrics, these uses will develop with demand. For instance, biometric authentication can be used in conjunction with passwords and cards to access sensitive records, further enhancing the security. Similarly, the technology can help with automating areas of healthcare, such as attendance records and time management etc.
Other future trends for biometrics in healthcare is fingerprinting to ensure accurate identification of dispersed people. The University of California San Diego has developed a new biometric technology that could help securely identify those individuals in situations of disaster relief, migrations, preventing human trafficking and refugee settlement.
Biometrics in school
The recent school shootings in the US has opened the door for debate on enhancing school security. Politicians, parents and the community have largely been divided on the issue, but biometric technology could prove more effective and less intrusive than having armed guards at each school. Biometrics in schools can provide physical identification for entry and access into classrooms, reducing the risk of unwanted visitors and assisting in ‘locking down’ a school if and when required.
Fingerprint scanners are relatively easy to implement and, due to their nature, are almost impenetrable to hackers, as fingerprint images are not stored on the readers. Similarly, they can work in conjunction with other security technologies, such as voice recognition or even key cards to further increase security. Biometrics in schools can also streamline many administrative processes, such as cashless catering systems, potentially class attendance and recording the length of absences.
Biometrics in the mainstream
The search for reliable, accurate security will see biometrics become commonplace. The future trends for biometrics, we predict, will include a mass rollout into many industries and sectors. For example, biometric scanners at airports are becoming recognised, with passengers even able to go from check-in to boarding without a ticket and just one passport check at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport due to biometrics.
Other security trends that can be used in conjunction with biometrics include the likes of voice printing. While not related to biometric authentication, this is another aspect of security that is gaining traction. Millions of voice prints are being stored to deal with any kidnappings or other criminal activities. Should the person behind the crime speak on the phone, for instance, their identity can be determined by voice print.
While we are a long way from seeing the above two security technologies become commonplace, biometric technology offers many potentials for companies. You can read more advantages of biometric authentication, or look further into the industries adopting the technology here.
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