How do you choose the right biometric modality?

Biometric information is a set of physical characteristics unique to an individual. This information makes up you as a person and is therefore yours and yours alone. There are different types of biometric information, referred to as modalities. We’re talking fingerprints, face, iris and voice.

While all biometric modalities deliver convenient, reliable authentication, no one modality meets all an organisation’s identity access management needs. So which biometric modality is best for any given situation?

It depends on the risk you are trying to mitigate, the relevant costs, and the ability to integrate the right biometric modality into your existing identity and access management regime. Factors such as ease of use, anti-spoofing capabilities, user acceptance, cost effectiveness and even hygiene also need to be considered.

Every modality has its pros and cons. Iris scanning, for example, relies on specialised hardware and is less publicly accepted when compared to more mainstream modalities like facial recognition. On the other hand, it’s extremely accurate and has high verification speeds. So choosing the right biometric modality – or combination thereof – is about finding that perfect balance between security and user convenience.

The bottom line is you need a solution you can customise to best suit each and every access scenario.