8 min
In the past, if you wanted smooth yet secure access to your most valuable resources, your business would rely on keys, codes, and access cards. Today, biometric access control offers a modern solution for top-level security and efficiency.
Here, we’re going to look at everything you need to know about biometric access control, from how it works to the different types of tech and how to choose an appropriate system for your business.
Lock the door and throw away the key – you won’t need it anymore!
What is biometric access control?
Biometric access control turns each person – and their unique biological traits – into a key.
If you could stand by a door and make sure you recognize every employee who wants to enter, you’d have near-perfect security. Unfortunately (or maybe thankfully), you’ve got more important things to do.
That’s where biometric access control comes in. Using biometric data, it can identify your employees and approve or deny their access.
Instead of using a key or typing a code, you give the system your fingerprint, face, eyes, or even your voice to confirm who you are. Then you’re granted access.
How biometric access control systems work
The very first step is for the system to learn your unique biometric data. This happens during enrolment, where a picture or scan of the relevant credential (e.g. your fingerprint) is captured. This raw data gets turned into a digital template – a kind of signature that the system stores securely and can use to identify you and you alone.
When it comes to gaining access, most systems work in one of two ways:
- Verification (One-to-one): You tell the system who you are, maybe by showing an ID badge, then you provide your biometric sample. The system compares your sample to the template it has stored for your specific ID. If they match, you're in.
- Identification (One-to-many): You provide your biometric sample, and the system scans its whole database to see if it recognizes you.
So, when you want to get access here’s what usually happens:
- You present your credential to the scanner.
- The scanner takes a reading.
- The system picks out the unique bits from your scan.
- It compares your live scan to the stored signature (or checks through all stored signatures).
- If the two signatures match, the door unlocks. If not, it stays locked.
Types of biometric access control technologies
The systems themselves are largely similar across providers - either verification or identification - however the credentials used are more unique. There are plenty of ways your body can become a key:
- Fingerprints: These are very common and work by reading the unique lines on your fingertips. Some mobile phones use this in place of a passcode.
- Face: This tech maps the unique shape and features of your face. It's becoming more popular because it's contactless and fast. You’ll know this if your phone unlocks with Face ID.
- Iris and retina: Scanning parts of your eye can produce a highly accurate (and thus hard to imitate) biometric signature.
- Voice: Your voice is unique, too, and some systems use it to grant access. If this system is used in a loud environment, it might struggle.
- New technology: Biometrics is an ever-evolving field. There’s growing interest in the vein patterns in hands and even gait analysis as biometric credentials.
Advantages of using biometric access control
More and more businesses are choosing biometrics — their use is predicted to grow by 37.5% in 2025. Growth like that doesn’t happen by chance, there are several good reasons for choosing biometric access systems:
Enhanced security
It’s far harder to fake a fingerprint than it is to steal a keycard or guess a PIN. While biometric systems aren’t infallible, they offer increased levels of security and reliability.
Faster, contactless authentication
Forget swiping or typing, biometric scanners offer quick and even contactless entry – a win for efficiency and hygiene.
The benefits of this compound if you have a lot of staff. A few seconds saved on each entry or exit adds up to a lot across your entire staff roster.
Reducing human risk factors
You can misplace a key or forget a passcode. You can’t lose your fingerprint or your face.
In this case, biometrics can save you time, money, and effort – all while reducing your risk of a breach due to simple human error.
Improved audit trails and access logs
If a team shares one key to a room between them, you’ll struggle to track who has it, as well as who has used it and when.
With biometric credentials being unique to each individual, you’ll always have an accurate log of who has been where and when, making your auditing and monitoring far easier.
Disadvantages and risks of biometric access control
Of course, there are also some downsides to consider with biometrics and you should consider these carefully.
Privacy and data protection concerns
Storing and using biological data is a serious undertaking. Companies need to follow strict rules as laid out in HIPAA or GDPR regarding gathering, processing, and storing this information. The costs of a breach could be huge and expose the company to legal issues.
Accuracy issues
While the tech is good, it’s not flawless. Sometimes, the system might not recognize a legitimate user (false negative) or might mistakenly grant access to someone unauthorized (false positive).
Environmental factors like noise or darkness can impact these systems, unlike with passcodes or physical keys.
High initial setup cost
Installing and running a biometric system can be expensive, as the technology is specialized and requires the initial effort of enrolling staff with their credentials.
Locks and keys might feel a little rudimentary compared to biometrics, but they’re a lot easier and cheaper to set up.
Vulnerability to spoofing or hacking
While robust, some biometric systems can be tricked with fake fingerprints or even sophisticated masks.
The risk can be minimized with multi-modal authentication, requiring more than one biometric credential. Liveness detection tools can also check for behavior, activity, and biological signals that the credential is attached to a live human (rather than a photo or mask).
Real-world applications of biometric access control
Biometrics are being used in more locations than ever, with their growing popularity seen across industries:
- Offices and businesses are managing staff access.
- Healthcare settings are protecting patient records and securing sensitive locations.
- Airports are speeding up passenger flow while maintaining high security.
- Government and military facilities are restricting access and tracking personnel.
- Private individuals are using biometrics in their homes for security and convenience.
- Even our phones are unlocked with biometric credentials.
Is biometric access control the best option for you?
While biometric systems offer some unique advantages and are increasingly popular, that doesn’t mean every business should jump straight to using them.
If security is your top concern and you want to eliminate the risks of lost credentials, biometrics are a strong contender. Similarly, for high-traffic locations, contactless options like facial recognition can boost efficiency.
However, you’ll need to weigh up the initial cost, privacy implications, and potential accuracy issues against the benefits. Some businesses find that a mix of biometric and traditional methods are the best approach, depending on the context of each location.
Why use acre security for your biometric access control system?
To achieve cutting-edge security, you need cutting-edge systems. We offer a range of biometric options as part of our bespoke access control systems.
We build systems for our clients that integrate seamlessly with other solutions, so you can create a unified and robust security ecosystem. If, as we mentioned previously, you want to combine some physical security processes alongside biometrics, we can make it happen.
On top of providing the technology, we also prioritize secure data handling. There’s no point in having physical security if you’re going to have insecure data.
Biometrics are popular for a reason
Biometric access control is changing the way businesses think about security, offering a unique and powerful way to manage physical access.
It’s not a one-size-fits-all solution and there are cons alongside its many pros. Still, the enhanced security, faster authentication, and improvements to efficiency make it an attractive option for many businesses.
This is a growing field and, as the technology continues to evolve, you can expect to see even more innovative and valuable biometric solutions securing our physical spaces.
Ready to take the step and secure your assets with biometric access control?
