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Biometrics: A Little Background Information

Francis Galton remains one of the founders of biometrics, the application of statistical methods to biological phenomena. His research into mental abilities and dispositions, which included studies of identical twins, were pioneering demonstrations that many traits are inherited. Galton's passion for measurement led him to open the Anthropometric Laboratory at the International Health Exhibition in 1884, where he collected statistics on thousands of people. In 1892, Galton invented the first system of fingerprinting. Adopted by police departments all over the world, fingerprinting was the most reliable form of identification in forensics—until the advent of DNA technology in the late twentieth century.

What are Biometrics?

A biometric is a measurable, physical characteristic or personal behavioural trait used to recognize the identity or verify the claimed identity of an enrolled user. Physical features typically used for biometric identification are fingerprint, voice, retinal or iris, facial or hand geometry.

By determining an individual's physical features in an authentication inquiry and comparing this data with stored biometric reference data, identification for a specific user can be determined and authentication for access can be granted.

In the development of biometric identification systems, physical and behavioural features for recognition are required which:

  • are as unique as possible, that is, an identical trait won't appear in two people: Uniqueness
  • occur in as many people as possible: Universality
  • don't change over time: Permanence
  • are measurable with simple technical instruments: Measurability
  • are easy and comfortable to measure: User friendliness

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Fingerprint Identification

Of all the biometric techniques being used today, fingerprint-based identification is the oldest method, which has been successfully used in numerous applications. Everyone is known to have unique, immutable fingerprints. A fingerprint is made of a series of ridges, splits, dots, valleys and furrows, as well as the minutiae points. Minutiae points are local ridge characteristics that occur at either a ridge bifurcation or a ridge ending. These characteristics are then converted to a unique 'digital fingerprint' template that can be stored in a smart card or central database for subsequent matching and authentication processes.

Biometrics Today

Biometrics is becoming the 'norm' for not only large applications and projects, but for protecting access to individual computers, cell phones, pocket sized personal computers, networks, Web servers and database applications, as well as during transactions conducted via telephone and Internet (electronic commerce and electronic banking). In automobiles, biometrics can replace keys with keyless entry and keyless ignition.

Current stringent Data Protection Regulations with regard to access control to sensitive or personal data held within Corporate network is adding to the demand for much tighter access control. Markets such as Healthcare, Banking/Finance, and Government are specifically sensitive to the problem.

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Learn how SentriNET's suite of programs can help secure your business using biometric authentication

When Password Security Isn't Enough

The High Cost of Traditional Security

About Biometric Templates
Why Are Biometrics Used?

For Security
    • Protect Sensitive Data
    • High degree of identity certainty in transactions
    • Create databases with singular identities
For Accountability:
only biometrics can identify you as you (passwords aren't you)
    • Improve auditing / reporting / record keeping
    • Time keeping
For Efficiency
    • Reduce password-related problems

 

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