Thales Launches Fingerprint-Scanning Access Card

Thales has launched a new biometric smart card for enterprise access control. The SafeNet IDPrime FIDO Bio Smart Card features an embedded fingerprint sensor and NFC capabilities, and is aimed at security access both to physical venues and to IT assets.

In announcing the card solution, Thales cited data from the “2023 Verizon Data Breach Investigations Report” to illustrate the need for post-password enterprise security, noting that 49 percent of all breaches involve the use of stolen credentials. Fingerprint-scanning cards eliminate this threat while offering an easy and convenient means of secure access.

Employee data, meanwhile, is also safeguarded. Thales emphasized that users’ biometrics are stored only on the SafeNet IDPrime FIDO Bio Smart Card itself, and are never sent to an external server, thereby eliminating the possibility that the biometric data itself could fall victim to a hack attack or data breach.

What’s more, Thales says its solution is compatible with all digital platforms supporting the FIDO Alliance’s FIDO2 standard for strong authentication, including Windows, Mac, and Linux.

“MFA adoption has been a common barrier to ensuring security, as many users find it cumbersome and choose to bypass it. The SafeNet IDPrime FIDO Bio Smart Card helps to solve this challenge, introducing a physical form factor to strengthen security, while also providing a user experience that is both quick and seamless,” said Danny de Vreeze, the company’s VP of Identity and Access Management Products. “Adding to a strong portfolio of FIDO-supported security keys and solutions, this product is on the cutting edge of phishing-resistant authentication.”

De Vreeze has been busy; earlier this week, he also announced a partnership with the Colombian FinTech firm SoyYo focused on passkey technology. The launch of the SafeNet IDPrime FIDO Bio Smart Card further illustrates Thales’ efforts to deliver post-password security solutions in various forms as the company seeks to help organizations better secure their clients and assets.

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October 18, 2023 – by Alex Perala