Biometric Access Control System—A Complete Guide

 biometric access control system is one that determines whether or not to let a person into a building or a specific room based on the individual's unique physical biometric characteristics.

It works by comparing the person's unique biometric characteristics such as face, fingerprint, iris, palm and hand geometry to a database of stored biometric templates about authorized users. If there is a match the person is allowed in otherwise the person is denied access. It provides significant physical security benefits for protecting a wide variety of locations from intruders. These kinds of security systems have been widely used by a lot of enterprises and organizations to safeguard a broad range of locations including commercial buildings, airports, banks, schools and government facilities among others.

The workflow is as follows:

Enroll Users: Administrators enroll users by capturing their biometric data (faces, fingerprints, irises, palm veins) using terminal devices.

Set Up Access Privileges: Administrators assign access rules based on user roles, enabling users to unlock doors and access secure areas with their biometric credentials.

Capture Biometric Data: When users attempt access the terminal scans their biometric data (faces, fingerprints, irises).

Verify Identity: The system verifies the data and grants access if it matches enrolled information and rules. Access is denied and an alarm triggered if it doesn't match.

Create Events and Reports: The system tracks access events and generates reports on building or area occupancy.

What is a biometric access control system?

A biometric access control system is a digital entry system that uses biometric technologies to control access to buildings or rooms. It identifies individuals using methods like facial recognition, fingerprint recognition and palm recognition, offering convenience and high security.

Is a biometric access control system safe?

Yes, biometric systems are safe for access control providing an additional security layer without requiring users to share personal information.

How much does a biometric access control system cost?

Costs range depending on factors like the number of doors like single or multiple site implementations and system complexity.

Which countries use biometrics to secure buildings the most?

Biometrics are used in over 50% of security systems worldwide. The top countries using biometrics for building access control include India, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, and South Africa.