BLOG: Why now is the time to migrate to biometric access control

Data security and privacy are fast becoming top priorities for businesses and individuals alike. Is your access control system keeping up? Users’ demands for robust protection of sensitive data are rising. Everybody wants to be confident that their information is safe from hacking, theft, and misuse. If your building’s physical security system isn’t updated with modern technology, you’re lagging behind.

One method of improving the security of an access control system is by opting for biometric readers. Where traditional systems use swipe cards, keyring fobs, or PIN codes to validate users’ identity, biometric access control uses people’s physical characteristics. Fingerprints, facial features, and iris patterns are fast becoming the gold standard for security.

This blog post will explore why now is the time to migrate to biometric access control. If you’ve been considering biometrics, or thinking about upgrading your current system, this is for you.

Limitations of traditional access control

Traditional access control systems with cards, fobs, and PINs has served us well for a number of decades now. But the modern era has exposed some fundamental vulnerabilities in these systems, particularly in unencrypted systems. The nature of credentials being carried in a physical item means they’re susceptible to loss or theft. Passwords or PIN codes are also prone to being disclosed to unauthorised users or simply forgotten. With these methods, the onus is on the user to remember something – without this, the system simply won’t work.

Without encryption in the system, there is another risk to accommodate: hacking or phishing. As security technology has advanced, so has criminal technology. If passwords or PINs aren’t sufficiently secure, there is a risk of hackers guessing them and using them maliciously.

The potential fallout of a physical security breach are immense. Failing to invest in reliable, secure, high quality access control may cost much more in the long run. One Fortune 500 company suffered vandalism to its critical infrastructure from an unauthorised intruder in 2019. Following an operational shutdown lasting two full days, the company’s revenue was hit hard, and stock prices dipped 3% [1]. The intangible impact to an organisation’s reputation is even worse; 66% of customers don’t trust a company in the aftermath of a data breach [2].

The rise of biometric access control

Biometric technology emerged as a serious proposition for commercial and private security systems from the 1960s onwards. Since then, advances have been huge. Many different physical features are now used for biometric access control, from fingerprints to iris patterns and speech features. What began as a slow, laborious, expensive, and pretty unreliable method of identifying people is now transformed. Capture, analysis, and validation of biometric credentials now takes seconds – or even fractions of seconds.

Availability is also worlds away from where biometric began. In 1996, biometric technology took centre stage in Mission: Impossible, with an iris scanner in the CIA headquarters presented as the very height of modernity in the most secure building the world. Though let’s bear in mind that the film is about people chasing after a secret list saved on a 230MB floppy disk, so the access control isn’t the most outdated technology featured! My point is that today, anyone can purchase a similar, and probably significantly more accurate and reliable, iris scanner online for less than £500.

In 2024, biometric technology is everywhere. More than 81% of smartphones have biometric recognition features enabled. 131 million Americans use facial recognition technology every single day – around two-thirds of them for unlocking phones, laptops, and personal computers [3].

Key benefits of migrating to biometric access control

Better security

Biometric access control is inherently more secure than traditional systems with swipe cards, fobs, PINs, or passwords. With biometrics, there’s nothing to bring, nothing to remember, and nothing a user could forget or misplace. At the same time, that means there’s nothing that can be stolen or maliciously acquired by an unauthorised person. It’s impossible to share biometric credentials with another person. You can’t lend someone your fingerprint or facial features. As a result, the risk of a security breach from the inside is significantly reduced.

More convenience

Everyone has done it at some point. Turned up to work without your lanyard and access fob. Gone to the gym and had to ask a receptionist to let you in because you left your swipe card at home. Stood at the checkout staring at the card machine, desperately trying to will your PIN code back into your brain. All these systems rely on a very low rate of human error – which might be simply unachievable by our nature. Conversely, with biometrics, users simply show up and that’s it. There is nothing more convenient.

Cost efficiency

Upfront costs are often one of the primary reasons why organisations considering biometric access control decide against it. These technologies are more expensive, that’s for sure. But you get a lot of bang for your buck. We’ll look at this in more detail later on. For now, just consider that long-term, there are savings to be made. No more replacing lost or damaged swipe cards or tags. Lower administrative costs for managing and constantly changing PIN codes.

Compliance and auditing

Accuracy is vital for security compliance and audit purposes. And biometric technology improves this by leaps and bounds. When your building is equipped with biometric access control, you know for certain that a person had to be physically present at the door to use the system. They can’t lend their credentials to someone else temporarily. As a result, every entry in the access control system’s event log is more likely to be an accurate representation of who was where and when. For regulatory compliance or post-incident reviews, this might be vital information.

Why now is the time to migrate

If you’re considering an upgrade to your security system, it’s the perfect time to migrate to biometrics. The potential impact of a security breach is too great to put off investment any longer. Biometric technology adds a layer of protection and security that is extremely difficult, if not impossible, to break. For even greater fortification, consider the inclusion of AES encryption.

Your competitors are certainly investing in biometric technology. Some may have been using it for years already. Being left behind is simply not an option. Customers form strong and lasting opinions of brands and organisations as a direct result of their security infrastructure setup. Invest now to safeguard your people, assets, and data, as well as futureproofing your brand’s reputation.

Combating common misconceptions

Privacy concerns

Many people have legitimate concerns about the privacy of their biometric data. After all, it’s not like a password – you can’t change or replace your fingerprints if they’re stolen. However, much of that concern is unfounded if you choose your solution wisely. A high quality access control system doesn’t store any live images of biometric features, but converts them into digital templates that can’t be reverse-engineered. Find out more about data security in ievo readers here.

Initial setup costs

As we already mentioned, the setup costs of a biometric access control solution are higher than a traditional system. But for the tangible and intangible benefits biometric technology brings, it’s well worth the investment. The cost of a data breach can be immense, and it’s on the rise. In 2024, the global average cost of a data breach was USD $4.88 million – that’s 10% more than the previous year and the highest average ever recorded [4]. Sure, it might not happen to your business. But if someone tried, you’d be extremely relieved to have invested in biometric access control long beforehand.

False positives and false negatives

Accuracy is also a common concern for those unsure about biometric access control. What happens if a valid user is not granted access? Or even worse, what happens when an unauthorised user manages to gain access to the premises? These errors are called False Rejections and False Acceptances. You can read our blog post which examines these in more detail, but in general, it’s about the balance between security and convenience. The higher the acceptance threshold in the system, the more secure it will be. But that might well come at the cost of increasing the rate of false rejections. Every organisation will have different priorities, and a good system will accommodate most of them.

How to migrate to biometric access control

Assess your current system

The first step is to conduct a comprehensive security audit to identify vulnerabilities in the existing system. Look at who will use the system, what accommodations they need, and whether the priority is more security or more convenience.

Choose the right biometric solution based on business needs

Fingerprint readers are by far the most common biometric technology used for access control. But that doesn’t mean they’re right for everyone. For example, in a warehouse where staff are carrying boxes, a system that requires you to have a free hand to gain entry might not be suitable. Facial recognition would suit better, so users aren’t so disrupted in their role.

Find a reputable installer to complete the project

Take a look at our Certified Installers list to find a reputable contractor in your area. We train installers to have a comprehensive knowledge of our systems, ensuring they can install and set them up quickly and easily.

Rollout the solution and train users

Once the system is installed, it’s a question of training staff to use it properly. There are right and wrong ways to scan a fingerprint, for example. Our biometrics expert, Kabir, explains it all in this easy video.

Conclusion

Now is the time to migrate to biometric access control. With the sophistication and rapidly increasing frequency of cybersecurity attacks, it’s an investment in your organisation’s future. Don’t wait for an expensive and damaging breach to open your eyes to the immense added value of biometric security. Get in touch with us to start planning your migration today.

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