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Touchless biometric options

When it comes to estate access control management, the foremost topic of conversation at the moment seems to be the importance of biometrics and the touchless options available to conform to the current COVID climate. From our experience at Entry Pro, the most viable options are:

Facial scanner (touchless biometric technology that identifies the person). This technology is not new but has exploded in the industry with the onset of COVID-19 and can detect the image of the face, although some biometric readers use image comparison algorithms which are susceptible to spoofing with a picture or photo. We only use readers that utilise 2D and 3D facial recognition technology.

Wave reader (touchless biometric technology that identifies the person). This technology utilises four fingers during the capture process, reading all four of the fingerprints on the hand, and allows the user to pass their hand through the biometric reader without touching the surface.

Fingerprint reader with sanitiser (standard fingerprint biometric reader that identifies the person). This is the standard fingerprint biometric reader with an add-on device which utilises UV light to kill bacteria that may exist on the lens.

QR code (touchless bar scanning technology that identifies the device/cellphone and not the person). QR code technology has been developed in order to grant entry and exit access to the resident via a cellphone by scanning a barcode at the gate.

Only part of the solution

Choosing the right biometric solution for your estate is essential, but still only part of the solution for an effective access control system. We are finding that estates don’t always realise that the system that supports the biometrics data is crucial. Without a system to establish what the data means or what to do with the data, you will never have an effective access control system, which will inevitably compromise the security of the estate. More estates fall into this trap unwittingly, due to the lack of understanding that what gets done with the data from the biometrics is just as important as their biometric choices.

Biometric devices supply you with a yes or no answer: yes this fingerprint or face is registered, or no it’s not. The system is the backbone of the process with the analytical capabilities to decide how to handle that data. You need to be able to set specific parameters to identify the data, for instance as a resident, visitor, delivery, contractor, gardener, domestic worker or whatever the case may be, and then it needs to be able to apply a set of preset rules and restrictions.

Along with the differentiating and analytical capabilities, you need to have a system that will give you the resources to use this data, not only in its practical implementation, but also by extracting reports to give you insights into not only the security of your estate but also the management thereof.

It is therefore imperative for estates to investigate and implement the best comprehensive solution for their estate access control that not only includes biometrics but also the systems that form the backbone of the entire solution. With the guidance of experienced specialists in the field like Entry Pro, it is possible to accomplish a comprehensive solution where the maximum amount of control is achieved, creating ease of mind for estate access control management.

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