Última actualización: March 15th, 2021 - 12:26 pm

It's quite possible that in the last time you've used biometrics whithout even realizing it. It was probably to carry out a procedure, validate a transaction or to access some place, among other possibilities. Sounds familiar to you now? In case you don't remember and/or are still wondering what biometrics is, in the following lines we'll you everything about ir. At least what you need to know.

SPOILER: Let’s start by saying that it is used by millions of people around the world.

What is biometrics: short and sweet

Let’s talk straight: la biometrics is based on the recognition of people based on their unique features or characteristics.

These characteristics are, by inference, also non-transferable. The technology that biometrics uses is an automated process: biometrics itself is an analysis of each person’s characteristics and gestures. That’s why when we talk about biometrics solutions, we are talking about versatility.

Now, which is the main purpose of biometrics?

The main objective of its use, regardless of the solution being implemented, is the validation of the identity of the person, in processes that can range from access to identification, including request or transactions across different industries.

First thing to be aware of: You’ll see biometrics applied in remote banking procedures, in online payments or in access to devices (for example, the fingerprint to access your mobile phone), just to name a few things in daily life. Can you think of where else we use biometrics? Let us know by leaving your answer in the comments.

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How does a biometric system work?

At VU Security we prioritize creating reliable, frictionless and secure digital experiences for users. This is what a useful and successful biometric system aims to.

How does a standard biometric system work? Let’s think about it in three phases.

First, the VU biometrics system offers the person the chance of registering, based on one or more of their physical characteristic or gestures. This is registered in a database, which will be constantly and automatically updated with each user or registration.

In a second step, the system analyses those extracted traits and obtains a series of characteristics that will be associated to that person. We may say that it creates a specific combination of patterns that correspond to them.

Then, when it’s time to access or to validate an identity, the system compares the data it obtains with the data already stored in the database. These unique traits are the ones that validate the identity of a person at any time: if the characteristics don’t match, the authentication is denied.

No tricks: biometrics detects who you are

The biometric system records who the person is. Not his mood, not how he or she dresses.

This solution works on patterns that can’t match with those of other people, that’s why it’s able to guarantee authenticity, avoid identity theft and prevent proceedings on behalf of third parties.

Although the success rates of the technologies produced nowadays vary across industries, they may deliver high numbers. So much so that they can achieve up to 99% of validation if required by the company or the transaction.

Some of the most commons traits used in biometrics to authenticate people’s identity are:

• Voice recognition
• Face recognition (look at the example below!)
• Fingerprint recognition

This leads our thoughts to... is biometrics truly safe? Find the answer and some useful considerations about it in our blogpost.

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Biometrics in your face: the example of facial recognition

The use of biometric solutions has been growing as different companies, industries and areas of the society have advance towards digital transformation. We’ve already said that millions of people benefit today from these solutions.

We live in an evolving world. The need for secure, agile and frictionless verification made it possible.

For example, given the massive digitalization of events as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, VU Security created the solution Video Call Identity, which allows authenticating people who join teleconferences or participate in virtual meetings within a company. This prevents identity theft and restricts access to unauthorized persons.

Biometrics is here to stay. And it’s increasingly common to find applications of these solutions in:

• Access to the infrastructure of global companies
• Procedures and transactions in the banking sector
• Citizen identity validation in government entities
• Authentications in social and healthcare services

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, both public and private companies were forced to accelerate the digitalization of their procedures. That’s how biometrics solutions still help them to validate the identity of their customers, users and citizens remotely, securely and without contact.

Conclusion

Biometrics have been providing solutions to society for a few decades now. Are you wondering if it’s part of the digital transformation every business need? Surely yes! Being truly honest, it's a fundamental part.

More and more industries (healthcare, finance, tourism, e-commerce, banking, to name a few) choose this technology for its ease of use, friendly digital experience, reliability and success. It serves them to offer secure and agile transactions. When we think about the security of users, collaborators and customers, we can’t ignore this identity verification system.