SMART Access & identity 2024

BIOMETRICS

Facial authentication solutions combine advanced AI and 3D sensing technologies with ease of use to create a frictionless, touchless experience.

AI-driven identity verification for access control Supplied by Alcatraz.ai and C3 Shared Services.

T he human need to protect assets has always existed. Whether it be classified information or personal property, limiting access to these resources based on identity has existed since modern civilisation started. Throughout history, we have seen examples of the lengths people will go to conceal their valuables from the wrong people. In 100 BC, Julius Caesar was known to transmit messages to generals using codes and cyphers, an early form of encryption. Fast forward to 1960, when Fernando Corbató first used passwords to secure computer files. We have evolved, though, and in 2022, identity verification is not conducted by people or people-driven applications, but by artificial intelligence (AI). As the machine learns, complex algorithms compile data and then use the data to make better decisions. You have likely already interacted with an AI-driven application today if you have conducted a Google search, had a song recommended by Spotify, or simply unlocked your iPhone.

identification verifier. We will expand upon this concept later, but from here on out, we will discuss AI-driven facial verification as it relates to access control and security. Multi-factor authentication Multi-factor authentication refers to an extra layer of authentication required for a user to gain access. Multi-factor authentication aims to increase the difficulty for an unauthorised user to gain entry into a secured facility. AI facial verification is the ideal choice as the first layer of authentication due to its ease of use and touchless requirement. To create a multi-factor process, facial authentication can then be paired with additional access control credentials like keycards, pin codes, or other biometric factors. Data security A sound access control system that employs facial authentication technology will ensure that the data collected by the system is protected. Any information processed by the technology should be encrypted and used solely for authentication purposes. When it comes to users’ faces and verification, enrolled users should be given the option to opt-in for the verification, allowing individuals a level of control over their profiles. Frictionless solution Facial authentication solutions combine advanced AI and 3D sensing technologies with

ease of use to create a frictionless, touchless experience. The deployment of this technology in an access control system keeps users and administration moving. Users do not have to stop and take out an access keycard; the admin does not have to worry about manually enrolling users and issuing cards. Artificial intelligence learns as it goes, so user profiles are built based on a few device interactions, making enrolment a breeze. Zero Trust environment Derived from the basic security principle of ‘never trust, always verify’, Zero Trust means designing security around the assumption that your company’s associates, applications, and devices cannot be trusted. Access control systems with facial authentication automatically employ this principle since the camera detects intent to approach the door in an attempt to authenticate each face. Again, the automated processes functioning behind the scenes determine if the user is to be trusted and, therefore, granted access or not. Authentication vs recognition: Why does it matter? Facial authentication and facial recognition are often thought of as being synonymous. While similar, the two terms serve different purposes and employ different processes (see box) on page 52. It is essential to understand Continued on page 52

How does AI-driven identity verification elevate security?

Identity verification powered by AI can be applied in different ways, perhaps the most popular being through facial authentication. Facial authentication is an actively recognised process where a person’s face is their

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access & iden i y 2024