Top 5 Misconceptions about Biometric Security

Biometrics is too complex to install and maintain, and it will disrupt my existing infrastructure. Any biometrics company you work with will walk you through installation, and maintenance is as simple as maintaining the actual reader devices. And integration is not a problem—M2SYS' solution, for instance, integrates with the leading HR software from providers such as Kronos and ADP.

Biometrics isn't safe—that data could get stolen. The idea here is that it's bad enough to have a password or PIN stolen, but what happens when someone steals your fingerprint? I've discussed this with several biometrics companies, and they have all ensured me that the biometric data is encrypted and no images are really stored—only a mathematical representation that is nearly impossible to re-engineer. "I have yet to come across one single story or case where someone's biometric identity is stolen and used for nefarious purposes," Trader said. "I've scoured the Internet. I've talked to professionals. Nobody knows of a case where this has actually happened."

It can't work or isn't practical for my organization/situation. Many organizations think biometrics are ideal only for government agencies and organizations super concerned about security. But really, biometrics offer a variety of different advantages, such as saving time (single-sign on to avoid password resets, reducing time and Help desk calls); reducing waste (getting rid of time slips, punch cards, etc.); and security.

The technology isn't there yet—too many false positives and false negatives. While it's true that fingerprint scanning has some false positives and false negatives, the more sophisticated technologies (such as finger and palm vein scans) have very high accuracy rates, regardless of work conditions that could compromise the sample. With M2SYS' Hybrid Biometric Platform, you can use different kinds of biometric readers for different applications and have it all integrate in one system, so you have less fear of getting stuck in a system that doesn't work for everyone.

It's too expensive.  Probably the biggest reason biometrics are not used is because they're considered too expensive. "I think it's a basic misunderstanding of the long-term savings you can achieve using biometric technology," Trader said. "People are only thinking of the up-front cost. They aren't thinking about, 'How much can I save with not having to print ID cards? How much time can I save my payroll department for not having to reconcile time sheets? Biometrics offers the best price for your return on investment."