The chances are good that your current access control system is working exactly as intended.
An employee taps their key card or enters a PIN. The system recognizes the credential and the door unlocks. But it can only verify that a valid credential was presented, not who presented it. A shared PIN or found key card will still grant access to an unauthorized user.
This introduces unnecessary risk in environments housing sensitive information, valuable assets, or restricted areas. And it’s putting additional strain on the teams already under pressure to protect assets and satisfy compliance requirements.
Many enterprises are now looking to add another layer of verification to confirm who's actually standing at the locked door. This article explores why biometric fingerprint readers deserve a place on the consideration shortlist.
A person’s fingerprint is a unique identifier that goes everywhere with them. It’s impossible to lose, share, or forget. Adding biometric fingerprint readers to your access control system gives you a layer of security that key cards and PINs can’t offer. They authenticate the person, not the credential.
Beyond meeting the highest standards of cyber-physical security, biometric readers also reduce the friction associated with managing credentials.
| Common Challenges | Key Card and PINs | Biometric Fingerprint Readers |
|
Lost or forgotten credential |
Administrators must disable, replace, and reissue lost or forgotten key cards. Replacing key cards and PINs takes up valuable time and physical card replacements cost money. |
Users always have their fingerprints with them. If used in a two-factor authentication approach (key card + fingerprint), a lost card alone can’t authenticate an unauthorized user. |
| Shared credentials |
Key cards and PINs are easily shared with no administrative visibility into the practice. |
Authentication is tied to a. specific individual. |
| Credential sprawl |
Multiple active key cards can accumulate for the same user over time. This increases administrative overhead and creates uncertainty about which credentials remain active. |
Authentication is tied to a single enrolled identity, simplifying management and audit of access rights. |
| Employee turnover | Administrators often chase down users to recover physical key cards and deactivate access. | Administrators can revoke access centrally and immediately. |
The appeal of reducing credential management headaches can be quickly overshadowed by fears of deployment costs and disruption. Fortunately, biometric fingerprint readers strengthen existing access control systems, not replace them.
Nearly half of security professionals surveyed by ASIS said executives at their organizations view security as mostly or primarily an enabler of business goals vs. a cost of doing business. And more than half (54%) reported that perception has strengthened over the past two years.
Implementing and scaling biometric access control shouldn’t be disruptive to your organization. Let’s consider the process through the lens of an enterprise with 60 buildings across 25 states.
A biometric platform like BioConnect integrates with leading access control, IT security, and enterprise applications. The existing access control system remains the primary source of truth. User permissions are managed within it and automatically synchronized to the biometric system.
Enrolling thousands of employees takes time upfront, but it’s a one-time exercise. In our fictional enterprise, an enrolled employee’s fingerprint is automatically connected to every reader in the locations they’re credentialed for, across all 25 states. This happens in under a minute.
To make deployment more manageable, you can choose to layer biometric readers into your most critical access points and sensitive zones first.
For example, our fictional enterprise might decide that biometric fingerprint readers are required to get into main entrances and higher-security areas, like server closets and IT rooms. Employees use key cards for lower-risk areas.
This approach strengthens security where it matters most without requiring a building-wide rollout on day one.
A month after the first biometric readers are installed, the CEO of our fictional enterprise asks why he still needs a key card to get into his office when it would be easier to just scan his fingerprint.
Whether it’s a C-suite ask or a whole new facility build, it should be simple to add readers incrementally as security needs change. For example, with BioConnect you simply buy the new hardware required and licences are automatically adjusted to cover the number of readers installed.
While biometric fingerprint readers are the visible part of the solution, the software platform behind them plays an equally important role. There are significant differences in the security, reliability, and enterprise-readiness offered by different vendors. Here are a few important questions to ask when evaluating solutions.
How is biometric data stored and protected?
Look for a solution that securely encrypts all communication between system components, including highly sensitive biometric data. The system protects data in transit and at rest, and stores binary templates rather than actual fingerprint images. For example, BioConnect uses unique proprietary algorithms to encrypt templates so they can’t be reverse engineered into a fingerprint.
You should also understand where data is stored and who controls it. BioConnect stores sensitive biometric information local to the customer’s environment, never in the cloud.
Will it stand up to audits and compliance reviews?
Make sure the system you choose is compliant with all relevant privacy laws. User authentication data should be securely encrypted to protect privacy and ensure compliance with BIPA, GDPR, and CCPA so you can manage biometric data in alignment with regulatory requirements.
The system should also provide clear records of who accessed what and when, while supporting your organization's privacy and regulatory requirements. Avoid violations with built-in privacy controls, audit logs, and consent management.
Traditional access control systems verify credentials, not identities. Biometric fingerprint readers add a trusted layer of authentication that lets organizations verify the person behind the credential.
They don’t require you to rip-and-replace trusted tech. Instead, they’re easy to integrate into the systems you already use and deploy at the right pace for your organization. These benefits aren’t reserved for fingerprint readers. All biometric readers offer a practical way to strengthen security without disrupting existing operations.
Need help building your own biometric business case? Start by answering three quick questions to better under which biometric access control solution is right for your organization
Q: Are biometric fingerprint readers more secure than key cards and PINs?
A: Key cards and PINs verify a credential. Biometric fingerprint readers like the Arc Touch, verify the person presenting it. They provide a stronger layer of identity verification and help reduce the risks associated with credential sharing, theft, and misuse.
Q: Will biometric fingerprint readers integrate with my existing access control system?
A: Yes. Most enterprise deployments layer biometric fingerprint readers on top of existing access control systems. User permissions continue to be managed through the organization's access control platform, while biometrics add an additional layer of identity verification.
BioConnect integrates with leading access control systems, including Genetec Security Center, SoftwareHouse CCURE 9000, LenelS2 OnGuard, LenelS2 NetBox, Brivo OnAir, AMAG Symmetry, Acre Open Options, Acre RS2 and Keyscan Aurora.
Q: Are biometric fingerprint readers difficult to deploy across multiple locations?
A: They shouldn’t be. Modern biometric access control solutions integrate with existing access control systems and support centralized administration across multiple sites. Organizations often start with critical access points and expand over time as security needs evolve.
Q: How is fingerprint data stored?
A: This varies by vendor. The most secure solutions store encrypted biometric templates rather than actual fingerprint images so they can’t be reverse engineered. It's also important to understand whether biometric data is stored locally within your environment or in the cloud, and who has access to that information.
Q: What happens if someone’s fingerprints won’t scan?
A: Fingerprint recognition technology has become increasingly accurate over the years. However, factors such as age, skin condition, certain occupations, or physical injuries can make some fingerprints more difficult to capture and authenticate.
For these situations, organizations can establish alternative authentication methods that maintain security without relying on a fingerprint alone, such as facial recognition or a combination of a key card and PIN.