How Electronic Door Locks Enhance Security

Security has always been a major concern for everyone, from homeowners to businessmen, whether it’s ensuring the safety of precious valuables and/or property behind physical locks or protecting valuable data with several layers of encryption.

The biometric door system is the latest and most advanced in the line of security technology, combining the best of both physical and digital locks in order to ensure maximum security for both home and office facilities.

What are Biometric Door Systems and how do they Work?

Biometric door systems are sophisticated security systems that use biometrics instead of keys, RFID card credentials, or access codes and PIN numbers.

Not only are they capable of authentication, but are also capable of adjusting the authentication levels depending on the ease of access you want or need.

They are also more convenient, as you would never have to worry about leaving your key or keycard or forget the PIN number again, as the access code to biometric systems are always with you, whether it’s your face or thumbprint.

The easiest way to control who gets access to your facility is by storing a database of the people who are allowed access, which biometric systems are connected to through a network or series of networks.

Biometric door systems work by identifying individual biological recognition patterns such as fingerprints, facial recognition, and even body motion.

These recognition patterns are then encoded into a set of data points and compared against the existing database. If a match is found, the system recognizes the person trying to enter and opens the door.

How Biometrics Compare to Other Authentication Methods

The most obvious advantage of biometric compared to more conventional methods is that they are linked both intrinsically and exclusively to only one individual.

This makes them extremely difficult, if not outright impossible, to steal or duplicate, and create a sense of accountability among employees and authorized personnel who have access to the facilities where these biometric security systems are installed.

Most biometric systems are also really easy to use, which frees up management on the user’s end. Not only is this highly cost-efficient for suppliers, but is more convenient because users do not need to remember passwords or PIN numbers.

In addition to this, user accounts are exclusive to the people who use those accounts and cannot be shared with anyone else. 

A combination of two or more of these metrics can also help to achieve security in the workplace or at home if needed, as well as be backed up by the more conventional methods in case of an emergency or an error with the system’s servers.

Another advantage that biometric security systems hold over conventional authentication methods is the option and ease of integration to a centralized system which can be monitored and adjusted by a system administrator according to what is needed.

Some Disadvantages of Biometric Systems

It’s important to keep in mind, however, that user cooperation is required for these biometric systems. This means that not all biometric technologies are suited for all users, and makes them difficult to access for employees or personnel who are physically disabled.

Biometric data is also unalterable and the risk of false rejection or false acceptance is also significant enough that the systems and servers need to be constantly monitored, upgraded, and maintained.

The use of unique biometric data prints, such as fingerprints, vein recognition, and facial recognition, can also come at the cost of setting up new biometric systems potentially meeting resistance from personnel who view the technology as an invasion of their privacy.

This presumption is not unfounded. As these biometric prints are unique to each individual, this authentication method could be perceived as using personal information in order for personnel to gain access to the facility.

This means that employees’ personal information can be compromised if the servers do not have proper encryption. If the servers containing the database of these personnel are hacked, this could potentially result in identity theft. 

With that said, a fail-safe (such as several layers of encryption) can be put in place in order to prevent this scenario from happening in the first place, and with the help of a capable administrator that can actively monitor, manage, and upgrade the system if necessary, these problems can be minimized.