What is Biometric Verification?

The terms biometric verification and biometric authentication are synonymous and are often used interchangeably. Both involve the comparison of characteristics against a template or record, for example, a selfie or photo for facial recognition. Verification is often used alongside identity to match identity details against an official identity document.

Biometrics and identity verification work brilliantly together

greenID is an online identity verification solution which helps verify an individual’s identity whether it’s to comply with anti-money laundering obligations and/or credit/fraud risk prevention. greenID’s platform is set up to quickly, accurately, and easily verify an individual’s identity. Our multistage verification model enables matching against a range of data sources, which include government, public, and proprietary data sources in real time. The addition of biometrics within the greenID platform provides an added layer of trust in securely proving the presence and ownership of a genuine identity.

What are the different types of biometric verification?

Fingerprint scanning

This is a common type of biometric verification. Fingerprint scanners can capture a high-resolution image, most commonly your thumbprint, that is hard to fake.

Face recognition

Facial recognition uses a camera to scan your face and compare it with an image to verify identity. Algorithms analyse, measure, and map facial features and the space between them to create a faceprint, which is a recording of the person’s face presented in a numerical format.

Iris scanning

Iris scanning deploys camera technology and subtle infrared illumination to get up close, capturing detail-rich images of the coloured part of your eye combined with mathematical pattern-recognition techniques.

Retina scanning

Retina scanning projects a low-energy infrared beam into the eye to map this pattern, converting it into a line of machine-readable code.

Voice recognition

Voice recognition uses a microphone to capture your voice biometrics or the unique way you speak, like your accent and the frequency and flow of your voice.

How does biometric verification work?

Biometric verification works by using our unique physical or behavioural characteristics to assist in identifying us. There are three main steps to the process.

Step 1 – Detection This involves the detection and collection of biometric data. Detected data is normalised and aligned to a standard data reference set.		Step 2 – Analysis The detected biometric data is then analysed to extract, measure, and map the features or unique patterns that will be used for comparison.		Step 3 – Matching The biometric template created during analysis is compared to and programmatically matched to an authoritative source. In face recognition, your faceprint is compared to an image extracted from your identity document.

How secure is biometric verification?

Biometric verification alone does not deliver a definitive identity proofing process or promise to be 100% fraud proof. However, liveness checks, identity verification, and other fraud detection tools can all be part of a secure, multi-layered approach to formulate a trusted identity.

How is biometric data stored?

Like all sensitive personal identity information (PII), biometric data needs to be protected, and if stored must be encrypted and only transferred via a secure encrypted channel.

Our identity-proofing solution uses face recognition technology. Upon completion, the faceprint is securely stored in an encrypted environment to support your identity audit process. Data anonymisation rules provide you with control over PII and biometric data which can be securely destroyed in real time upon request or after a predefined retention period.

Onboard customers quickly with biometrics

Speed and convenience matter as much as security for successful brands looking to build customer relationships based on trust.

Biometrics provides real-time verification of potential customers presenting themselves to your business. A combination of face matching algorithms on 68 facial landmarks, passive liveness testing, and deepfake injection attack detection, ensure you’re establishing a genuine identification of your prospective customer without disrupting their onboarding experience.

Altogether, our document and biometric solutions deliver a low-touch onboarding experience for businesses and customers. With access to a global library of over 8,500 identity documents, delivered via robust SDKs and zero text entry required for customers, the whole process can be completed in as little as 30 seconds, providing a strong digital defence against identity fraud.

Integrate biometrics into your existing processes

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