Iris ID’s Biometrics Are Second Only to DNA in Accuracy
In an exclusive interview with a&s Middle East, Mohammed Murad, Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development at Iris ID, talks about his company’s pioneering technologies, the fusion of face and iris biometrics, and their global impact on security technology
a&s Middle East: Can you tell us about your career journey and how you came to your current role at Iris ID?
Murad: After finishing at The College of New Jersey with a degree in Computer Science and Mathematics, I started my career in development and integration. After a few years of experience, I joined an organization to provide post-sales system consulting which led me to try my knowledge in presales consulting to help sales and business development teams achieve their targets. That prepared me to run the global business at Iris ID. Since 2002 my journey at Iris ID has been amazing, it has been a very fulfilling experience and still going strong. Now Iris ID is a globally known brand in the iris biometrics space.
a&s Middle East: What are your main responsibilities as the Vice President of Global Sales and Business Development?
Murad: I manage Iris ID global product marketing, business development, sales, and NJ operations.
a&s Middle East: IRIS ID has a long history in iris recognition technology. Could you share some key milestones in the company’s development?
Murad: There have been many firsts at Iris ID. We were the first to really commercialize iris recognition solutions for our customers to enhance their security infrastructure. Iris ID was the first to implement and support an iris image standard and a driving force to get it adopted across the industry. We were the first to utilize iris recognition in securing the borders in Europe and the Middle East. We were able to help the world’s largest democracy enroll 1.4 billion people so they can uplift their citizens’ lifestyles and provide much-needed services. We implemented the concept of fusing the most convenient biometric, face, and the most accurate biometric iris, into one solution. We implemented our biometric solutions into an Android device and allowed our ecosystem partners to develop, build apps, and deliver robust cutting-edge innovations. These have been the defining moments for Iris ID and iris recognition.
a&s Middle East: Can you provide an overview of the latest products and technologies that IRIS ID has introduced?
Murad: Since the end of the pandemic, we have been very busy developing products that allow our partners to build solutions that can utilize non-contact biometrics to enhance the customer experience. These new products expanded our product portfolio and extended our biometric solution by combining face and iris as a fused biometric modality. All our current products iCAM D2000, iBAR600, iT100, and iA1000 use the convenience of face biometrics and the accuracy of iris recognition to deliver an exceptional user interface. We are now focusing on building our app partner ecosystem so they can provide apps for virtually every vertical market. The key to our future success is developing solutions that fit each individual customer and are not one-size-fits-all. Later this year we will be launching a cloud-based data collection service, “iTMS Cloud,” that will interface with popular Human Resource Management systems like UKG and SAP SuccessFactors.
Second only to DNA, iris recognition is the most accurate biometric
a&s Middle East: How do you see the current landscape of biometric technology, especially in comparison to other modalities like fingerprint and facial recognition?
Murad: These are exciting times in the biometric industry where there are numerous innovations. All our industry colleagues are focusing on making biometric technologies simple to use and deliver fast ROI. As I mentioned earlier, we have adopted the most convenient biometric (face) and fused it with the most accurate biometric and made it so simple. Using iris recognition technology is as easy as looking towards the device for a second to complete the identification process. We believe all forms of biometrics are required at a particular time. In the USA, the FBI has indicated the finger for forensic, the face for investigative, and the iris for identification. With this approach, we can deliver strong authentication solutions for National ID, enterprise access control/time attendance, secure border crossing, transactions at ATM, and much more.
a&s Middle East: What are the key advantages of iris recognition technology over other biometric systems?
Murad: The Iris biometric is non-contact, fast, and accurate. The key advantage is its accuracy. Second only to DNA, iris recognition is the most accurate biometric. It captures over 240 degrees of freedom, or unique characteristics, used to formulate each iris’ algorithmic template. Furthermore, iris biometrics maintain accuracy whereas other biometrics do not. Examples include the fact that the technology works when the user is wearing goggles or masks, face shields, hazmat suits, PPE, or dressed in full cultural clothing such as a hijab or burqa. Authentication will still work no matter if the user has changed their physical appearance. Iris technology is also unique in that twins do not share the same iris nor can their irises be rubbed off. In fact, even blind people qualify to use iris technology. The technology works regardless of race or culture and is totally bias-free.
a&s Middle East: How do you address the concerns related to the use of facial recognition technology for security and law enforcement applications?
Murad: It is always a good idea to have multiple forms of identity verification and authentication, especially in sensitive use cases such as law enforcement and security. Using a face biometric can be used for investigative purposes followed by an iris biometric for positive identification. It is important to emphasize that the use of biometrics should be opt-in. We have many customers that obtain their users/ consent so they can use iris biometrics for internal identification purposes.
a&s Middle East: What are the specific advantages of using iris recognition in multi-factor authentication environments?
Murad: Using iris recognition as part of an MFA (multi-factor authentication) is smart when implementing security protocol. When used with traditional security tools such as pins and passwords, biometrics adds an extra layer of security that cannot be compromised. In particular, iris technology offers superior anti-spoofing. Encrypted iris recognition templates cannot be re-engineered which prevents fraudulent activity and identity theft. Additionally, Iris ID-generated templates have a very small footprint that allows these templates to be stored on a smart card to create a distributed database to comply with GDPR. This is a great solution for multi-factor authentication, as the person possessing the smart card must be present to gain access.
Our technology works when the user is wearing goggles or masks, face shields, hazmat suits, PPE, or dressed in full cultural clothing such as a hijab or burqa
a&s Middle East: Can you elaborate on how iris recognition technology manages to avoid false positives, even among identical twins?
Murad: Iris technology is the only data-rich biometric that is based on pattern recognition or a pattern-matching methodology. We take pictures of the eye just like a camera. The image capture process does not require any complex method and the process is safe and secure. Once the image is captured, an algorithm analyzes the pictures, and it is converted into a 512-byte digital template. It is not possible to convert the iris template to iris images once the template is created. This data is stored in a database as a series of 0’s and 1’s and is communicated to a control unit associated with the biometric device; identity is confirmed or denied. Because the data is not tied to any other personally identifying information (PII), should there be a data breach, individuals would not be able to be identified. Regarding twins, although they share the same DNA and may have similar faces that could possibly fool facial recognition systems, they do not share the same iris patterns. Furthermore, everyone, even twins have different iris patterns among the right and left eyes.
a&s Middle East: How does the enrollment process for iris recognition work, and what makes it user-friendly?
Murad: It is a very simple process. A subject approaches the device that is activated by proximity sensors to start taking pictures. The entire process takes less than 2 seconds to identify an individual in very large populations. We have spent a tremendous amount of time and resources conducting research in developing a unique user interface with mirrors and other everyday-use products. The goal is to deliver a simple user interface with a best-in-class experience.
a&s Middle East: How does IRIS ID approach innovation and staying at the forefront of biometric technology?
Murad: We spend a lot of time listening to our customers and our R&D engineers take that feedback and apply it to each new concept. We then take new concepts back to our customers for validation. This enables us to enhance user the experience. Throughout the year, Iris ID actively participates in tradeshows and conferences to learn about the market and what customers need and want. Over the past 25 years, these activities have informed us of market trends. Additionally, I sit on the IBIA board whose mission is to advocate and educate about the responsible adoption of technology as it relates to managing identity, privacy, and security for individuals, organizations, and governments.
a&s Middle East: Could you discuss some unique applications of iris recognition technology in different sectors such as healthcare, law enforcement, and finance?
Murad: We have a global deployment of the technology. Iris ID is proud to say we have the who’s who on our customer list. Our technology is used to protect information in most Fortune 100 companies globally. Our systems are integrated with multiple access control systems on an enterprise level. Many law enforcement agencies globally use Iris ID solutions to identify individuals. In 2020, the FBI’s NGI Iris Service was made fully operational and is most used today for the identification and validation of individuals entering and exiting correctional facilities where identity mix-ups are the root cause for many prison escapes in the U.S. Iris ID’s solutions are used to identify individuals at border crossing, enable them to vote, receive healthcare services, perform financial transactions and more.
Iris ID was the first to implement and support an iris image standard and a driving force to get it adopted across the industry
a&s Middle East: How does iris recognition technology handle anti-spoofing, and what measures are in place to prevent identity theft?
Murad: Iris ID has implemented a liveness detection algorithm to analyze data and verify that the source is indeed a real human. There is a new name for anti-spoofing which is also an ISO standard, “Presentation Attach Detection” (PAD). We have unique technology to avoid any sort of attack. We are always striving to stay ahead of the bad guys.
a&s Middle East: How does IRIS ID address concerns related to privacy and data security in biometric systems?
Murad: As a company, Iris ID has high standards for itself, vendors, and customers who purchase and use our products. We make it clear that we are solely a solutions provider. At no time do we have access to, receive, or hold any biometric information. We expect that our customers will provide notice and receive consent from participating clients, but we do not have access to those details. We have published our biometric privacy statement at Privacy – Iris ID. I encourage you to visit our website and read our privacy policy https://www.irisid.com/privacy/
a&s Middle East: Can you explain the measures IRIS ID takes to prevent misuse of biometric data and ensure user privacy?
Murad: As mentioned earlier we take privacy and presentation attacks very seriously; we spend a lot of resources to make sure we are protecting our technology from any misuse.
a&s Middle East: What are the current trends in the biometrics industry that you find most exciting or promising?
Murad: Trends are pointing towards easy-to-use biometric solutions with customers agreeing to use biometrics to receive an enhanced user experience. Technology is part of everyday use applications from accessing buildings, performing a banking transaction on a mobile phone to entering the gym. We see the ubiquitous use of biometric technologies.
a&s Middle East: How is IRIS ID addressing the unique security and biometric needs in the Middle Eastern market?
Murad: We have a long history of providing iris recognition solutions in the Middle East. Biometric adoption within this region is expected to continue to grow. As you cross the region from Dubai, Doha, or Saudi I am sure you have come in contact with Iris ID solutions to provide a seamless process of identification at the border. We are always working to form new partnerships and communicate the company’s capabilities. We are currently involved in several major projects in the region from data center security to managing organizations’ time & attendance capabilities and many other solutions.
a&s Middle East: You recently entered into a partnership with Arena in Turkey. Can you share any significant partnerships or projects that IRIS ID has undertaken in the Middle East, and how these have impacted the region’s security landscape?
Murad: Iris ID is excited to announce a new strategic partnership with Arena to distribute its cutting-edge multi-model iris and facial recognition products in the Turkish regional market. This collaboration aims to leverage Arena’s extensive network of partners to enhance accessibility to iris recognition solutions across many diverse industries. Customers can now access Iris ID’s innovative products through Arena’s distribution channels, empowering businesses to enhance security and efficiency. Arena has more than 5,000 business partners spread across every town in Turkey since 1991.
a&s Middle East: What are your predictions for the future of biometric technology and its integration into everyday life?
Murad: The future for biometric technologies is bright. We have already seen the intersection of biometrics in our daily life and it will continue to accelerate.
a&s Middle East: What are the next key goals for IRIS ID in terms of product development and market expansion?
Murad: Iris ID wants to focus on developing products that are frictionless, easy-to-use solutions and allow our ecosystem partners to develop apps that satisfy our customer’s need for identity solutions. Our new product roadmap is full. Keep an eye out for our announcement on some exciting new technologies coming out in the coming year.
Iris ID’s solutions are used to identify individuals at border crossings, enable them to vote, receive healthcare services, perform financial transactions, and more
