Per Phil Scarfo is vice president of commercial and marketing at Lumidigm
As long as markets like Brazil continue to advance in the use of biometrics, demonstrating its full value, it may be a good indicator of trends in the use of biometric technology for the future. With the rapid adoption and deployment of biometric sensors in large banking networks, in addition to the growing demand for greater security and convenience from consumers, one question remains: we may be about to reach an inflection point for some very important developments in 2014. ? To resolve this doubt, let's analyze five main predictions for this year in terms of biometrics:
1 – By the end of 2014, most bank branches will be equipped with biometric sensors
Five of the largest Brazilian banks are already adopting biometric authentication, implanting sensors in ATMs. The other banking institutions should not take long to follow the same path. Brazil may even become the first country in the world where the number of ATMs with a biometric authentication system exceeds those that rely only on conventional models by the end of this year – which will be a major milestone not only for the market local, but for biometric technology and industry in general. It's clear that when smart vendors combine what consumers want (increased convenience) with what they need (increased security), the result is a compelling, winning formula for everyone. Brazilian banks are proving that biometrics can increase security without increasing complexity – offering a real benefit and a model that works.
2 – Smartphones will replace other forms of personal identification
Worldwide today, more people have access to mobile phones than to clean water or electricity. Therefore, smartphones must become the main store of digital devices. When combined with the ability to not only store secure credentials or applications, but integrate them with NFC (Wireless Information Exchanger), Bluetooth (Wireless Personal Network) or other means, the world of secure e-commerce becomes closer to reality. Who needs to carry a credit or debit card if they can be integrated into the cell phone?
This new “smart digital key” can even be combined with a “smart digital lock”, such as a biometric sensor in an ATM – protecting financial transactions with lower risk and greater user convenience. Identifying the user and their device provides the two-factor authentication that most experts believe is necessary for intelligent security solutions.
3 – Convergence of biometrics and smart mobile devices
By introducing Touch ID (biometric authentication) to the latest iPhone model, Apple has made this prediction a lot easier. It is very likely that other manufacturers will have to follow Apple's lead and introduce biometric authentication for many devices in 2014. Once users begin to see the convenience of the phone "recognizing its owner", not only will they be more inclined to lock their mobile devices and protect their data, but they will also expect the convenient security level of other smartphone manufacturers to be more competitive.
Given that so much of our personal and confidential information resides on these devices, an unlocked cell phone can become a real threat to the security of a person's identity and privacy. Also, since there is a much better option than memorizing passwords, codes, etc., biometrics tend to grow in this regard as well.
4 – The 'death' of passwords
While the real death of passwords may take a little longer than this year, with more than a billion people today with broadband internet access (which was just 38 million in 1999), we may finally be reaching a point where one (or more than one) secure app on a smart device could actually replace those less secure and less-than-convenient passwords that we are all cursed to remember and keep.
It's really impressive to think that a security technology that was introduced over 50 years ago (Username/Password) is still the predominant way of securing online transactions. With so much more of our lives involving transactions between people and machines, and not just between people, there has to be a better way to replace this ineffective approach – which is no longer secure and certainly not convenient at all.
So while the last breath of passwords may come after 2014, this should be a year when the “tipping point” will finally be reached – and the day may indeed be near when we will see the death of the keyword.
5 – The great leadership and vision of the Brazilian market begins to spread to other markets
The widespread adoption of biometrics in Brazilian banks, lottery houses and other financial transaction services will likely stimulate other markets to realize that biometrics (especially when combined with smart devices) may be the only tool needed to enable and support a wide range of safe applications for users. A smart and secure cell phone, when combined with biometrics at an ATM, lottery shop or other point of sale – or even with a digital touch point – could easily replace all other forms of personal identification over time. So, the question remains: why would it be necessary to carry an identity card or credit card, travel documents, chips, or remember a long list of passwords and keywords, if any online transaction can be enabled to authenticate both the person how much your digital key?
It might take a little over a year to be sure, but this convenient security trend is set to continue. After all, we may 'need' security. But, we 'want' convenience and privacy to securely transact in any business environment, anytime, day or night, anywhere. Security should no longer be a barrier, but a bar of protection that guides our path and protects us. And Brazil is clearly the leader of this revolution, being able to show the rest of the world that, when simple and intelligent solutions are found, they can replace complex, ineffective and outdated alternatives.
* Phil Scarfo is vice president of commercial and marketing at Lumidigm. Based in Albuquerque, New Mexico (United States), Lumidigm offers biometric sensors with multispectral imaging and optically enhanced visual solutions equipment that meet the needs of customers worldwide for physical and logical access control in markets such as banking. , health, education and entertainment institutions, in addition to civil and governmental identification.
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