Government Security News January 2017 Digital Edition

ID kiosk is after the credentials have
been issued – when they are checked
at the point of entry to an airport
terminal, area or building. Here,
biometric data can be matched
against a central database. Fingerprints
can be quickly scanned and
matched. A signature can be validated.
Or a photo can be used for a
facial recognition (FR) comparison.
Many of the security functions enabled
by the technology can take
place seamlessly without the user’s
explicit step-by-step direction because
they occur in the background.
Once an individual’s background
and identity are vetted through the
appropriate authoritative agencies,
it won’t have to be done repeatedly.
All of the work is done up front and
subsequent screenings are virtually
instantaneous.
Gaining entry to a secure area –
for example, a particular work area
in a mission critical facility or location
– can be done at an unattended
gate, simply by requiring a quick
fingerprint, iris scan, or FR comparison.
The potential for unauthorized
access, fraud and human error is reduced.
Re-entering the US after a trip
abroad can also be made faster
and easier with self-service kiosks.
Instead of manually completing a
US customs form and handing it,
with a passport, to a customs agent
for checking, questions can be answered
on an electronic screen and
the passport can be authenticated at
the same time. The machine does
more than visual inspection of an
ID credential – it can also scan for
invisible security features. The time
and labor savings can be invaluable.
This technology is already being
used at international points of entry.
A common credential for government
facilities and agencies could
also be accommodated. This would
allow authentication between agencies
with a high degree of confidence.
The migration to self-service kiosks
will require planning. Traffic
volume must be carefully considered
when deciding how many machines
to install and in what locations.
They must be easy to find, and
it’s important to install enough of
them to prevent long lines. Bottlenecks
would defeat their purpose of
convenience, and discourage use.
The interface and workflow are
critical points for user adoption. The
kiosk should be inviting and easy to
use and understand. It’s possible for
the interface to adjust workflow in
accordance with the user’s demographic
(age, for example). The user
won’t realize it, but the speed of the
question/answer workflow will be
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adjusted to meet the user’s anticipated
needs.
Anti-fraud measures can be
built in as well. Biometrics can be
proofed with background adjudication.
The interactive technology will
detect inconsistencies and adjust
the workflow to allow correction or
to automatically abort an attempt.
Conclusion
The use of self-service kiosks for
identity authentication will become
commonplace in areas, like airports
and government facilities, where a
high degree of security is required.
These new technologies will enable
faster and more accurate checking
of credentials, saving time and
money and providing a new level of
convenience to the users.