Biometrics offer higher levels of accurate identification that can't be achieved with any form of access card, password or personal identification number (PIN), says Marius Coetzee, MD of Ideco.
These security controls all have four fundamental flaws: they are routinely lost, stolen, forgotten or shared, Coetzee says. This is the business case for using biometrics, he continues, adding that the return on investment (ROI) can be measured in various ways, depending on the nature of the biometric application.
One example of this is the use of fingerprint readers, which are now widely used in SA for time management in the workplace. Before, tools like buddy clocking systems were used, resulting in time-consuming disputes with payroll departments, he says.
Other organisations may need to reinforce physical security, by preventing unauthorised access, or for occupational health and safety reasons - the ROI is based on reducing the risk and preventing losses, he stresses.
There is no particular industry that has embraced biometrics, Coetzee says. Fingerprint readers are installed in a variety of environments, ranging from residential estates to schools, he says.
Any sector that is exposed to identity-based risks will reduce these through the introduction of biometrics, Coetzee emphasises.
Coetzee is a speaker at the ITWeb/Ideco IDentity Indaba, to be held on 1 November. For more information and to book your seat to this event, click here.
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