Biometric standardsAn overview of biometrics and identity management

February 2010

Read more at BSI’s Biometrics website www.bsigroup.com/biometrics

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The need to identify

• Every day we are required to identify ourselves Using a bank card with a PIN at a cash machine

A password to log on to a computer

Using a key to open a door

Punching a code into a keypad to enter the workplace

Using passwords on the Internet

Providing a passport and driving licence as proof of identity

• We need to be able to accurately IDENTIFY an individual to minimize current issues and threats

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Current attributes used to identify

• Name

• Address

• Postcode

• Date of Birth

• Account no.

• Passwords

• PINs

• Phone no.

• Mother’s maiden name

• Passport

• Birth certificate

• Driving licence

• Credit cards

• Utility bills

• Membership cards

• Salary slip

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Is biometrics the answer?

• A biometric is part of the person and is not easily compromised through:

Theft

Collusion

Loss

• Simplifies user management resulting in cost savings

• Users do not need to remember passwords

• Users do not need to remember PINs

• User accounts cannot be shared

• Easy to use

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Biometric definition

• The automated recognition of individuals based on their behavioural and biological characteristics

The general meaning of biometrics encompasses counting, measuring and statistical analysis of any kind of data in the biological sciences including the relevant medical sciences

• The term is derived from the Greek words “bios” meaning life and “metron” meaning measure

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Biological and behavioural• Biological

Fingerprint

Face (2D & 3D)

Iris

Vein pattern

Hand geometry

DNA

• Behavioural Signature

Gait

Voice

Keystroke dynamics

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Iris• Captures the pattern of flecks on the iris• Uses conventional cameras• Average 2 seconds for identification• No physical contact between user and

reader

Read more about BSI’s biometrics standards development at the Biometrics website www.bsigroup.com/biometrics

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Face• Based upon the geometric shape and position of

features of the face

• Resistant to changes in skin tone, facial hair, hair style, and eyeglasses

• No active user involvement required in order to perform identification/verification

• Limited success in practical applications

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Voice• Analyses voice patterns and characteristics of

speech e.g. pitch, tone, etc.

• High user acceptance – perceived as least intrusive biometric technology

• Easy for end users to implement

• Ideal for telephone systems/mobile environments

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Hand geometry• Measures the physical characteristics of the user’s

hand and fingers

• Low level infrared light and camera used to capture an image

• Suited to applications where there is a large user base or users access the system infrequently

• Systems are easy to use and robust

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Signature• Based on analysis of the dynamics of a handwritten

signature e.g. shape, speed, stroke order, pen pressure

• Generally use pressure sensitive tablets or wired pens

• User friendly

• Non intrusive – minimal public acceptance issues

• Captured signature can be used for digitally signing documents

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Keystroke dynamics• Monitors rate of typing and intervals between letters

• Verification based on typing rhythm – intruders may guess password but fail to key in with correct rhythm

• Neither enrolment nor verification disturbs the regular flow of work

• Low cost – only hardware required is keyboard

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Fingerprint• Variety of fingerprint devices available (silicon and

optical)

• Template constructed by analysing patterns that make the fingerprint (minutiae)

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DNA• Forensic genetics use deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) profiling in a number

of important human identity applications

• 0.01% of a person's entire genome is unique to each individual

This represents 3 million base pairs of DNA

95% of the human genome are non-coding sequences (called junk DNA)

• Standard profiling systems only exploit the junk DNA to maintain the privacy and civil rights of the donor

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Multimodal

• Combination of one or more biometrics

Algorithmic level

Results level

• Multimodal is the fusion of results with logic applied

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Key multimodal facts

Can be used to:

• Improve reliability

• Make forgery more difficult

• Make systems more flexible to user characteristics (decreases failure to enrol)

• Make systems more complex

• Promote inclusivity

Input Device

Matching

Result

Input Device

Matching

Result

Fusion

Fusion

Fusion

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Verification versus Identification

“Are you who you say you are?”

“Who are you?”

NOT

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Verification and Identification• Verification

Involves confirming or denying a person’s claimed identity – Are you who you claim to be?

Biometric sample captured and compared with the previously stored template for that user

One-to-one comparison

Are you who you say you are?

“I am who I say I am”

• Identification Means establishing a

person’s identity from an already established list – Who are you from this list?

Biometric sample presented to a system which searches the existing (enrolled) subjects

One-to-many comparison

Do I know you?

“I am not known to you already”

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Identification before verification

• To establish a ‘clean’ database of individuals each individual first needs to be identified

One-to-many match is performed against the central database to ensure the individual does not already exist under correct name or any other aliases

• Once identity is established it can be sufficient to verify the individual as proof of identity only

One-to-one match is performed at the point of interface without the need to check back to the central database

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Key Consideration in a biometric system

Current & Future

Technology

Risk & Requirement

Analysis

Research & Development

User Perception

Accuracy & Throughput

IntegrationPerformanceBusiness Process

Strategy

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Considerations of adding a biometric system

• Not all biometrics technologies suit all people

• In many cases additional hardware is required

• User co-operation is usually necessary

• Privacy concerns must be addressed

• Cost of personal devices in large systems can be significant

• User education is required

• Biometric revocation must be considered as biometric data is not secret

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Capture the legal and political imperatives

• Ask what additional considerations are there with a biometric application as opposed to any other IT deliverable

Privacy?

Data access considerations (who and why)?

Sensitivity of data?

Legislative limitations?

User acceptance?

Standards compliance?

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ISO/IEC JTC1 SC 37 Biometrics

• Currently 25 participating countries and 7 observer countries

• Liaisons with:

JTC 1/SC 17 Cards and Personal Identification.

JTC 1/SC 24 Computer Graphics and Imaging

JTC 1/SC 27 Information Technology Security Techniques.

JTC 1/SC 29 Coding of Audio, Picture and Multimedia and Hypermedia Information.

JTC 1/SC 31 Automatic Identification and Data Capture Techniques

JTC 1/SC 32 Data Management and Interchange

JTC 1/SC 36 Information Technology for Learning, Education and Training.

ITU-T SG17 Telecommunication Standardization Sector Study Group on Data Networks and Telecommunications Software.

BioAPI Consortium

IBIA International Biometrics Industry Association (IBIA)

ILO International Labour Office of the UN

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The benefits of standards for biometrics

• They foster wide spread utilization of the technology

• They are a sign of industry maturity

• They reduce time-to-market

• They facilitate interchange and/or interoperability

• They reduce risk to integrators and end users

• They reduce vendor “lock-in” effect

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