Are biometric security solutions very expensive?

With technology entering every part of modern lifestyles and our world becoming increasingly complex, protecting assets and people becomes more and more difficult. With each era, the traditional methods of doing things get replaced. Recent complexities in security and frequent breaches have led the world to rely more and more on advanced security systems such as biometric access control.

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Spectra’s range of biometric devices uses state-of-the-art technology for maintaining the utmost level of security. Check it out right here.

Why is biometrics needed?

Biometric authentication is important to confirm your identity for a variety of purposes. Authorizing access via the unique identifiers of your biology and behaviors, this technology has now proved to be quite foolproof.

The number of devices and platforms that are run via the Internet is increasing by leaps and bounds. So many devices such as smartphones, tablets, sensors, cloud-based services, etc. are sending and receiving information continuously. All this data can be sensitive which is why it is necessary that it doesn’t fall into the wrong hands. Relying solely on passwords and PINs is not enough. Therefore, it is more important than ever to integrate biometric technology for securing digital information, just like it is being used to secure physical spaces.

Can someone steal your biometrics?

It is very difficult for someone to forge, steal or use your identity. From managing the attendance of the employees to combating the challenges of online and offline frauds and breaches, biometric technology has outsmarted every other security measure present.

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What are the pros and cons of biometrics in security?

As the world gets more interconnected via IoT, there is going to be an urgent need to protect devices and information from security breaches in the future. It would be safe to say that biometric technology represents the future of electronic security systems, and more and more companies and businesses are realizing this.

Most common pros

• Strong authentication and accountability
• Easy to operate
• Reliable and hack-proof
• Quick and speedy results
• Sophisticated feel

Even though biometric authentication has proven to be extremely useful, there is still a question about what are the risks of using biometrics. When it comes to sharing extremely personal details, many people still are not comfortable sharing their fingerprints or having their faces screened and captured.

Most common cons

• In rare cases, biometric devices may give false rejection and acceptance.
• In case the biometric scanner is not of good build, authentication may not be as quick.
• The right kind of biometric solution should be implemented as per the industry and scale of business.

Every technological breakthrough goes through its own challenges before it becomes perfect. While the world gets accustomed to advancements like the biometric attendance system or biometric access control, a more ideal security solution would be to use multi-factor authentication, i.e., biometric scanning as well as password or RFID card verification, to authorize access in areas such as government buildings, hospitals & research centers, MNC headquarters, IT offices, etc.

Is biometric authentication expensive?

The truth is, there is no definite answer to this million-dollar question.

For some people, no price is more when it comes to securing their premises and their own peace of mind. For some others, functionality, and utility take priority over costs. You are bound to get subjective responses from the market if you ask how much does it cost to implement biometrics? However, we can line out the least expensive biometric technology and go up to the most expensive ones.

The most common as well as the least expensive biometric technology to deploy is fingerprint scanning. So, how much does a fingerprint machine cost? According to CIOinsight.com, a basic USB fingerprint scanner can cost as little as $20 (INR 1500) per device, and a more advanced 10-finger scanner can cost up to $2500 (INR 197000). Even small and midsized companies install attendance management systems with fingerprint scanning nowadays.

Curious about fingerprint recognition? Click here to check out our blog on understanding fingerprint identification for biometric security.

Contactless biometric devices are all the rage after the pandemic. Facial recognition is already a part of our lives with iPhones and many high-end android smartphones employing the face unlock feature. Facial recognition is more expensive than fingerprint scanning, with a full-range software costing as high as $1000 (INR 78,000) to manufacture. Of course, the price range varies as per the size of its application.

Finger vein scanning and voice recognition are also climbing up the popularity chart. Google has already implemented voice recognition for the world to use and become familiar with. Basic finger vein scanners in the market are placed around $200 (INR 16000) and become costlier as they cover more area and offer more precise results.

More sophisticated biometric technology like iris and retina scanning is quite expensive and requires the utmost care in usage as well. Starting from $200 (INR 16000), iris and retina scanners can cost up to $4000 (INR 320000). They are not widely installed in many places, mainly because they are expensive, and secondly because not every industry requires such high-level accuracy for authentication. Just for better clarity between the two, it would be remiss to not mention here that retina scans are 70x more accurate than iris scans.

Biometric Devices Today

Early generations of biometric devices were not as efficient as the ones we see today. Older systems were bulky, heavy, and required supervision during operation. They were also not as quick and accurate with their outputs. Over time, the price range of biometric devices has become stable. They have also become more accessible, even for small businesses. Mass production brings down costs, and that is what the biometric recognition systems sector is going through right now.

The biometric attendance system has become very common in offices for smooth attendance punching. Biometric access control can be seen even in hotels nowadays where instead of a key card, you can register your biometrics while checking in and open your room with your fingerprint.

With a successful widespread adoption of biometric technology for security in various industries like engineering and manufacturing, corporate, BFSI, education, and so many more, the prospects of biometrics are looking really good for the future. Global implementation is steadily gaining momentum and market surveys also suggest exponential growth in terms of revenue generation for the biometric industry.

For our readers who are just beginning to adopt biometric systems, check out the essential questions to ask when installing biometric technology. Click here.