Cost of biometric access control in Kenya
Businesses often implement biometric technology for single-factor or multi-factor authentication purposes to ensure safe and secure access to networks and applications, among other things. Common biometric security implementations include fingerprinting, hand scanning, iris scanning, retina scanning, facial recognition, or voice recognition hardware and software.
Iris scanning, retina scanning, and facial recognition are the most expensive types to implement, followed by finger vein and voice recognition. Fingerprint recognition is the least expensive option in this space.
Each permutation of this technology comes with its own level of security, however. For instance, though iris scanning is among the most expensive types of biometric technology, it offers middling security. Retina scanning is the most secure.
Conversely, fingerprint scanning, though more cost efficient, offers relatively low security. Finger vein scanning devices are midrange in price, but offer high security. As such, finger vein scanning appears to be the current best bet, considering the cost-to-security ratio.
A basic USB fingerprint scanner can cost as little as Ksh 2000 per device. However, enterprises are more likely to need more sophisticated entry point security. “Prices for biometric access control systems range per door when you factor in the biometric scanner, electronic locking system, software integration, and installation.
This leads us to the question, is biometrics access control worth it? Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of biometric access control systems.
| Pros | Cons |
| Convenient and fast to use | Hygiene concerns for touched surfaces |
| More secure than ID cards or passwords | Potential for data breaches |
| Technology is constantly evolving | Invasiveness and privacy concerns |
| Falling prices | Currently costly to implement |
Biometric security is convenient, as humans often forget passwords and lose access cards. By removing the need for passwords, badges, or keys, biometrics is a more secure option in Kenya for ensuring sensitive areas and information are only available to authorized users.
Because of the popularity of this technology, biometric security is consistently improving. Also, that popularity is steadily decreasing in price.
Despite these advantages, there are drawbacks to biometrics. Though prices have been sinking, biometric security is still not a cheap investment. Prices vary wildly by device, as each has a different type of sensor.
For a business, it is obviously safe to say that Investment in a more secure method of measurement is generally worth it. Additionally, users’ unique biological features are sensitive information. Privacy and secure storage is therefore of utmost importance. Though the technology is relatively secure, there is always the potential for data breaches. Investment in a more secure method of measurement is generally worth it.
some of these devices require frequent contact, which raises questions of hygiene. “Long-established solutions like touch-based fingerprint recognition represent a risk in the context of infection spreading, Therefore, contactless biometric solutions should be considered.
The COVID-19 pandemic was bad for the forms of biometrics that require contact (namely, fingerprint and palm scans), but it also sparked major interest in contactless biometrics. Still, the industry as a whole has been quick to adapt, and contactless forms of biometrics have seen rapid growth. Facial recognition technology has become more widespread during the pandemic, particularly as a way of granting access in highly trafficked locations. The pandemic also added a new dimension to biometric security: scanning people for illness through temperature checks.
Depending on your business’ size and operation, some biometrics devices may be more feasible than others. Take the above factors into consideration when deciding whether you should implement biometric security.
Here are some trends to watch out for as biometrics continues to evolve:
Ethical Concerns
As devices capture and store our physiological and behavioral data, questions of privacy and ethics will become increasingly important. Recent studies have exposed training biases in the AI used for voice and facial recognition software.
Behavioral Biometrics
Where traditional biometrics measures physical attributes, behavioral biometrics “identifies people according to how they interact with online applications and devices .Advances in machine learning, AI, and deep learning are allowing businesses to continually authenticate users using existing device sensors — such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and touchscreens.
Going forward, organizations and government agencies that work with sensitive information may find it useful to employ physical biometric security at access points, as well as behavioral biometrics on company devices.
Biometrics-as-a-Service
Cloud solutions in biometrics, or Biometrics-as-a-Service (BaaS), will make this technology even more affordable and convenient for businesses to adopt. It will also make this technology more scalable. BaaS “delivers biometric onboarding and authentication capabilities on the cloud platform and eliminates the cost associated with the database, network, and storage components. The only hardware component required is the biometric capture device to capture the individual biometric input, which makes it easier for these solutions to be deployed. The third-party software market that supports biometric technology is expected to grow exponentially, as well. It will become increasingly imperative to make this technology compatible across different devices and operating systems.
The biometric technology market is estimated to grow to Millions of Kenyan Shillings by 2025, according to mighty solutions. This growth can be attributed to the technology’s convenience, security, and scalability. But in spite of these benefits, this security technology can be costly.
Biometric Technology Is Here to Stay
Not only is biometric technology is here to stay, but it’s worth investing in. As more entities opt for biometric security, and as technology continues to improve, this is the way forward for both enterprise and consumer products.
There are many implementation options available, and they may be layered to offer multi-factor authentication. Finger vein scanning seems to offer the best cost-to-security ratio currently, but this industry is growing.
Biometric access control is still a viable solution for security companies to have in their repertoires and will only become more ubiquitous and less expensive as time goes by. But it’s vital to stay informed about changes in this industry so you can be a trusted advisor to your customers. Make Biometric Expertise Part of Your Sales Strategy