Nigeria, as a developing nation with a rapidly growing digital landscape, faces its own set of challenges when it comes to safeguarding sensitive information and one technology that holds the promise of revolutionizing information security in Nigeria is biometric technology, seamlessly integrated with the principle of zero trust. Have you ever been worried about keeping sensitive information? Have you ever felt a need to control who has access to your phone, computer, network, or anything confidential to you? Have you ever been a victim of cyber threats or cyber fraud?
If your answer to any of these questions is yes then you will agree with me that information security constitutes a great concern for humans especially as the world gets increasingly interconnected and that is why today, we will be talking about biometric technology which is one of the most security-enhancing technologies with a wide range of applications. We will be using Nigeria as a case study as we consider how biometric technology, if well embraced, can help improve information security in various sectors of the country.
So, what is Biometric Technology all about, and how does it work?
Biometric Technology is a technology that involves the use of automated tools for the identification and authentication of a person based on physical or behavioral characteristics. Biometric technology encompasses a wide range of identifiers, including fingerprints, facial recognition, iris scans, hand recognition, and even voice patterns.
A very interesting fact to know about biometric technology is that these identifiers are inherently unique to each individual, making them difficult to forge or replicate. With this great uniqueness and potential, there should be no doubt that implementing biometrics in various sectors of Nigerian society could significantly bolster information security.
Now, let us consider some of the sectors in Nigeria where biometric technology can find so much application.
- The Independence National Electrical Commission, INEC
The government agencies in this sector could employ biometric systems for voter registration, authentication, and voting, reducing the risk of electoral fraud.
- Border Control
Biometric identification could strengthen border control, ensuring that only authorized individuals enter or exit the country. By harnessing biometric technology, Nigeria could establish a robust and tamper-proof means of verifying individuals’ identities, safeguarding against identity theft and other fraudulent activities.
- Banking
Implementing biometric authentication in banking systems as an extra layer of protection against unauthorized access to accounts, reducing instances of fraud and unauthorized transactions. Furthermore, biometrics can enhance access control to critical infrastructure, sensitive government databases, and corporate networks, mitigating the risk of data breaches and unauthorized intrusions.
- Health Services
Integrating biometric technology can also bring about improvements in healthcare services in Nigeria. Electronic health records (EHRs) containing sensitive patient information are vulnerable to breaches, putting patients’ privacy at risk. By adopting biometric authentication for accessing EHRs, healthcare providers can ensure that only authorized personnel have access to patient’s medical histories and records. This not only protects patients’ privacy but also contributes to better patient care by facilitating accurate and secure information exchange between medical professionals.
This is how useful Biometric Technology can be, especially regarding information security, but you may want to ask, Are there any disadvantages associated with these techniques? Yes! Let’s look at some of them.
One of the primary concerns is the proper management and protection of biometric data. Biometric identifiers, once compromised, cannot be changed like passwords. Therefore, the storage and encryption of biometric data must be a top priority to prevent unauthorized access.
Also, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of biometric systems is crucial. Factors like variations in lighting, facial expressions, and other environmental conditions can impact the accuracy of biometric recognition. Adequate training and testing of biometric systems are essential to minimize false positives and false negatives, ensuring a seamless user experience.
In conclusion, the power of biometric technology to enhance information security in Nigeria is undeniable. Nigeria can bolster authentication processes, secure sensitive information, and streamline various sectors by harnessing unique physical and behavioral identifiers.