This is our maiden
edition of Talking Biometrics – a
weekly online biometric education resource featuring valuable awareness on
biometric identification and verification systems, with a focus on data protection,
system security and efficiency. So, keep a date with us!
Introduction to Biometric Authentication Systems (BAS):
In this edition we introduce
biometrics as one of many forms of authenticating a system user. We give emphasis
to benefits of biometric technologies and highlight areas of global industrial
use.
Types of Authentication:
Accessing information
systems requires a means of confirming the claimed identity of the user. Any
adopted means of verifying the identity of a system user is known as authentication.
Authentication verifies that the person seeking access is indeed whom he claims
to be. This process of authentication can be accomplished by any of three
modes:
1.
Memory-based authentication: This
requires the user to produce a memorized item (what the user knows). Examples
include password, PIN number, memorized code, passphrase, etc. Unfortunately
passwords can be shared, forgotten, compromised or stolen.
2. Possession-based authentication: Here the user is required to produce a tangible item, or physical
object (what the user has), as a confirmation of his claimed identity. Examples
include proximity card, badge (Id Card), debit card, or other forms of tokens.
Physical objects used for authentication have the disadvantage of being easily
forged, stolen, misplaced or damaged.
3. Nature-based
authentication: Natural attributes used for
authentication involve the use of certain human physiologies or behaviours as a
means of authentication (what the user is). Examples include fingerprint, voice
print, iris pattern, signature pattern, keyboard dynamics, gait, etc. These human
physiological or behavioural attributes possess natural characteristics and properties
that are unique, not easily damaged; and difficult to share or steal. They are
collectively called biometrics. Digital systems that make use of biometric
characteristics for identity verification are also called biometric systems, or
more specifically Biometric Authentication Systems (BAS).
Advantages of Biometrics:
Biometric systems
exhibit special advantages over tradition password and token-based authentication
systems because they could not be shared, borrowed, reused, forgotten or easily
circumvented.
Eg eyeballs cannot be
forgotten in the shower or elsewhere, fingers cannot be borrowed or shared
among friends, voice cannot be stolen. These benefits make biometrics a
preferred option for secure authentication.
However, biometric
authentication can be expensive to deploy and maintain depending on many
factors such as area of deployment, type and choice of biometric system,
additional features, among others.
Applications of Biometrics:
Biometric systems find
great use in many areas:
·
Time and attendance systems:
Biometric
systems are used to regulate and track entrance and exit into corporate
premises, for example offices, shopping malls, schools, to name a few.
·
Access control:
Biometric
authentication is used to control access into sensitive and protected
facilities where maximum security is required, for instance, military
facilities, nuclear facilities, airports, stadia, train station, among others.
·
Border and immigration management
Biometric
technology facilitates efficient management of immigrants at land, air and sea
borders.
·
Crime investigation
Biometrics
finds great use in forensic examination in crime and disaster management, eg FBI’s
cross-matching of fingerprints in Automatic Fingerprint Identification System
(AFIS).
·
Civic registration and identity systems
Management
of national identities is made possible by capturing citizens’ biometrics into
a single or replicated database for several purposes including monitoring the
demographics of birth and death rates, controlled allocation of benefits, etc.
·
Identity and Access Management (IAM)
IAM systems
use biometric authentication to ensure that the right users access the right
resources at the right time and for the right reasons. IAM is a major component
of biometric-based eGovernment automated systems such as the Electronic
Document management System (EDMS).
·
Electoral system
Biometrics
find usefulness in the registration of credible voters to curb multiple voting,
under aged voters, and avoidable disenfranchisement, etc.
·
Passport management
Biometrics has
been adopted as a modern means binding travel passports with their owners and
the data contained therein, hence biometric passports are universally usable
across global borders.
·
Healthcare management
Biometrics
finds great use in healthcare management systems where the biometric data of healthcare
beneficiaries are captured, processed and stored in secure databases and later
used to verify their identities at the points of care in hospitals and other
healthcare facilities.
About the columnist:
Kenneth Okereafor is an
accomplished ICT professional and Cybersecurity expert with over 20 years
experience in Enterprise ICT innovation management in private and public sector
computing. He holds dual PhD Degrees in Computer Science (Cybersecurity) and
Management (ICT Administration and Governance) with a first class Electronic
& Telecommunications Engineering background. He is a United Nations trained
Network Security Specialist and is proficient in Network Optimization, Data
Protection, Biometric Systems and Digital Forensics. Kenneth has published many
works, contributed to several national ICT assignments and participated at many
international technology conferences. He has strong research interests in Cloud
Security and Green Computing, and may be reached at nitelken@yahoo.com
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