Before we get into the benefits delivered by biometric access systems, let’s take a brief field trip to Silicon Valley. Our first stop is the head office of identity and access management company Okta. Here, you’ll find an unusually subdued atmosphere for a tech giant that has nicknamed itself “The World’s #1 Identity Platform.”
Okta was hacked in January 2022, and given their self-appointed nickname, this was an especially mortifying incident. Indeed, Okta didn’t own up to it until they were forced to by Lapsus$ – the hacking syndicate that did them dirty. Lapsus$ apparently gained access via an employee who worked for one of Okta’s subcontractors, Sitel.
This brings us to our next stop – one of Okta’s customers, Twilio. This leading global communications company uses Okta’s Single Sign-On (SSO) platform, and on the 4th of August 2022, they were hacked too. In Twilio’s case, the hackers were freely given employee passwords via an SMS-based social engineering attack.
If you remember nothing more from this quick tour through two of Silicon Valley’s largest communication and authentication providers, it should be this – human error is the easiest weakness to exploit, and no business is immune to attack. Okta’s entire purpose is to provide secure access to technology platforms, while Twilio prides itself on its SMS-based 2-Factor Authentication (2FA). Yet both were breached with alarming ease thanks to simple human error.
This leads us neatly to our topic for today – biometric security. While devices can be stolen, employees can be fooled by social engineering attacks, and passwords can be compromised, biometrics present a major dilemma to bad actors. Let’s take a look at the many ways a biometric access system can boost your business security.
Convenience and security in one package
When incidents like the Okta and Twilio hacks occur, most companies double down on staff training and security measures. While this is a logical step to take, it often results in employees feeling bogged down by all the new security measures and authentication steps they have to take. Of course, this is better than having your data, systems, and other assets compromised. However, strong security does not have to come at the cost of convenience.
With the best fingerprint time clock, for example, you have a robust system that will only grant access to authorised personnel who have a profile in the system. Top biometrics brands like FingerTec are fitted with cutting-edge technology capable of scanning fingerprints with such accuracy that they can get a precise read even through dirt, sweat, or clinical gloves.
Upgrading to a biometric access system means your employees no longer have to be responsible for key cards, passwords, and any other compromisable credentials. Hackers have a good chance of getting at least one person in your team to unintentionally give up their password in a phishing scam. However, fingerprints just can’t be accessed so easily.
Streamlined access for visitors
This convenience can extend beyond your employees to any regular visitors to your premises. Rather than having a manual sign-in process that’s time-consuming for your visitors and your team, you can program your biometric access system to recognise regular suppliers, contractors, partners, or clients.
The beauty of these systems is that you can create unique access profiles for all employees and visitors. So, your employees may only be able to gain access during scheduled work hours, while your visitors may only be able to access certain areas at certain times. This gives you ultimate control and a high level of security while at the same time giving your visitors a marvellously streamlined experience.
Tracking time and movements
While it’s not hard to find a low-cost fingerprint time clock, Australia is home to a corporate market that generally values quality and features over all other factors. Most Aussie business owners understand that security is not an area in which you want to go for cheaper, less-effective options. Since a high-quality biometric access system can help with both internal and external threats, it’s clear that this is an area worthy of investment.
From shrinkage to time theft, employees are responsible for billions of dollars of global revenue loss each year. With a biometric access system, you immediately cut down the scope for time theft. You also gain far clearer data on who was where and at what time. Not only does this put the power of accurate data in your hands but it also increases the accountability your employees must take for their actions.
Another major benefit of biometric time and attendance tracking is the valuable information it will give you if an emergency or security breach occurs. You can know at a glance exactly who is on the premises and where they are. Similarly, internal disputes are easier to resolve accurately and fairly if you know for sure who was on site, where they went, and at what times.
Easy and accurate compliance
Corporate compliance is a crucial aspect of safety and security for many businesses, and with biometrics, you can dial in your adherence to all relevant laws, industry standards, regulations, and ethical guidelines.
Let’s take childcare centres as an example. It’s crucial to have the right ratio of staff to children in any given room at any given time. A biometric access system can track and record the number of staff and children in every area of the facility. This data can be fed into your backend system where it gives you the power to quickly take action to ensure you’re always operating in accordance with your industry standards.
Are you looking for the right biometric technology to support your hybrid team? Nexus Biometric would be happy to help. This is, after all, our speciality! Contact our friendly team today, and we’ll help you determine the best solution for your specific circumstances.
