Biometrics refers to the automated recognition and measurement of biological and behavioral characteristics of an individual. These characteristics can include fingerprints, facial features, voice patterns, iris or retina scans, and even DNA. Biometric technology is used to verify and authenticate the identity of an individual, often for security access, identification, and surveillance
For example, fingerprints can be captured and compared to those stored in a database to identify individuals who are allowed or not allowed to use an enterprise-grade smartphone. In addition, the same technology is used to verify a person’s identity at airports or at other border crossing points where it can be difficult to distinguish between someone with a criminal record and a bona fide traveler.
A biometrics system uses a combination of software, hardware and algorithms to collect and compare a physical or behavioral trait to records or templates to determine whether the individual is authentic. It is a powerful tool for securing and enabling a range of applications, from physical access control to remote enrollment and authentication.