Unfortunately, the pandemic has forced many people and businesses to reconsider biometric technology. With the COVID-19 virus spreading easily through touchpoints, fingerprint scanners can quickly become a source for infections, especially in public spaces. Offices and ATMs contain many points of contact, and maintaining cleanliness on surfaces is nearly impossible. Unfortunately, these high traffic areas are also frequently the ones that would benefit the most from increased security.
It’s easy to see why the Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP), has become the security industry’s gold standard for access control installations. It enhances security, adds flexibility and makes systems easy to update and integrate with other devices. The Security Industry Association (SIA), with significant input from manufacturers and integrators, introduced OSDP in 2011 and it is now recommended for any public or private enterprise installation requiring a high level of security. Earlier this year, the International Electrotechnical Commission approved OSDP as an international standard.
Expect the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic to bring lasting changes to our lives, from the way we authenticate identity to how we open doors – and even use public restrooms. If there’s a theme among these changes, it’s that they will favor contactless solutions. The use of biometrics to authenticate employees and customers has snowballed over the last decade. Expect demand from public and private organizations to grow even faster as they require accurate identification of workers, students, patients and many more people in response to new challenges resulting from the virus.
Artificial Intelligence innovations that use biometrics data are on the rise - but issues can arise with this data use in view of newly enacted and developing data privacy laws and regulations.
Biometrics has the potential to make authentication faster, easier and more secure, as long as it is handled with due care. Based on this, what can companies and governments do to offer a safer digital environment for consumers?
Nominations are now being accepted for the 2020 Women in Biometrics Awards, a globally-recognized program co-founded by the Security Industry Association (SIA) and SecureIDNews and co-presented with sponsors IDEMIA, Biometric Update and the SIA Women in Security Forum.
Recent data breach incidents that expose personally identifiable information and biometrics highlight the lack of proper authentication and storage protocols. Organizations need to implement effective storage-based strategies to protect the biometric data collected as a result of authentication. Why is data encryption the solution?
Beginning January 21, 2020, Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) will implement a 45-day pilot of biometric screening technologies at three international gates to help U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) process departing passengers.
The Cambridge, Massachusetts, City Council voted to Monday night to ban the municipal use of facial recognition technology, becoming the fourth community in the state to do so.
