Biometric solutions: Outperforming its predecessors

Jamie McMillen, Head of Suprema Systems UK, Managing Director discusses the security advantages of biometrics.

Accurate, reliable and efficient

In the rapidly evolving world of security, the need for accurate, reliable and efficient identity verification has never been greater.

As organisations grapple with threats ranging from card cloning to unauthorised sharing and as environmental concerns gain urgency, biometric solutions are increasingly being recognised as the gold standard.

Unlike traditional access control systems – which rely on something you have (cards, fobs) or something you know (PINs, passwords) – biometric systems leverage something you are: Your unique physiological or behavioural characteristics.

From fingerprints to facial authentication, biometrics offer a level of security and operational efficiency that traditional methods simply cannot match.

At Suprema, our approach has been to refine this technology so it delivers the highest levels of accuracy, speed and user convenience, without compromising privacy or compliance.

The weaknesses of card-based and pin-based systems

1. Card sharing and cloning

One of the biggest vulnerabilities of traditional access cards is the human factor.

Employees can – and often do – share their cards with colleagues, contractors or even unauthorised individuals.

Whether it’s a casual “Can you swipe me in?” or deliberate insider collusion, card sharing undermines the integrity of any access control system.

Cloning technology has also advanced to the point where duplicating many access cards is surprisingly easy and inexpensive. This turns a lost or stolen card into a critical security risk.

2. Loss or theft of cards

Cards are easy to misplace, lose or have stolen – sometimes without the owner realising.

This results in a constant cycle of deactivation, reissuance and administrative cost, not to mention the security gap between the loss and its discovery.

3. PIN and password limitations

PINs and passwords offer little physical barrier to misuse.

They can be guessed, written down, overheard or coerced. In high-traffic environments, “shoulder surfing” – watching someone enter their PIN – remains an underappreciated but very real vulnerability.

The biometric advantage

Biometric authentication addresses these weaknesses head-on.

Because it’s based on unique human traits, it’s inherently resistant to sharing, theft and duplication. Here’s why:

• Uniqueness: No two fingerprints or facial patterns are the same. Even identical twins have distinguishable biometrics
• Non-transferability: You can lend someone your card, but you can’t lend them your fingerprint or face. This eliminates the problem of casual access sharing
• Spoof resistance: Modern biometric systems include liveness detection – ensuring that the biometric data comes from a living, present person, not a photograph, mould, or recording
• Permanent identity link: Biometrics tie the access event to a specific individual, creating a reliable audit trail and enhancing accountability

Environmental and operational benefits

Biometrics aren’t just more secure – they’re better for the planet and the bottom line.

• No plastic cards: The production of access cards consumes plastic, electronics and packaging materials. Over time, replacing lost or expired cards creates significant waste. Biometric systems remove this need entirely, contributing to environmental sustainability
• Lower administrative burden: Eliminating card printing, encoding and replacement frees security teams for higher-value tasks
• Scalability and future-ready: Suprema’s biometric platforms integrate seamlessly with existing access control infrastructure, supporting organisations as they expand

Overcoming misconceptions

Despite their clear benefits, biometric systems sometimes face hesitancy due to privacy concerns or outdated perceptions of inaccuracy.

It’s worth addressing both:

• Privacy: Suprema biometric systems store encrypted mathematical templates, not raw images, meaning data cannot be reverse engineered into an identifiable fingerprint or facial image
• Accuracy: With AI-driven algorithms and high-performance sensors, our solutions deliver industry-leading false acceptance and false rejection rates, outperforming many human-led checks

Case in point: Real-world impact

A large UK-based corporate headquarters recently transitioned from swipe cards to Suprema fingerprint terminals.

Pre-deployment audits revealed frequent card lending and multiple instances of lost cards per month.

Within weeks of going live, unauthorised access dropped to zero and operational costs linked to card reissuance were eliminated.

Peak-time entry bottlenecks also improved thanks to fast, one-touch verification.

The future is contactless and AI-enhanced

Contactless facial authentication – a technology in which Suprema has invested heavily – has seen rapid adoption since the pandemic, offering a hygienic, frictionless user experience.

Combined with AI-powered behavioural analytics, these systems can identify anomalies such as attempted access outside of normal patterns, adding a predictive security layer on top of verification.

Multi-modal biometric solutions – for example, combining facial recognition with fingerprint authentication – are already being deployed by Suprema customers to maximise both security and convenience.

Conclusion

When compared with traditional access control, biometric solutions are not just a technological upgrade – they’re a strategic necessity.

They address the inherent weaknesses of cards and PINs, reduce environmental impact and create a direct, verifiable link between an access event and an individual.

At Suprema, we believe the future of secure, sustainable and user-friendly identity verification lies in biometrics – and that the question is no longer if organisations will make the transition, but how soon.

This article was originally published in the September edition of Security Journal UK. To read your FREE digital edition, click here.