Authentication for secure environments based on iris scanning technology

Identification and verification of authorised users in a military context can sometimes be a matter of life or death and it is therefore essential that systems be accurate, reliable and robust. The need for positive identification of users in a military context is well recognised. The use of passwords or passphrases comprising of multiple words has the potential for compromise. The need for different passwords for different systems, together with the requirement to change the passwords at regular intervals often exacerbates the problem, particularly when systems are used infrequently or are widely dispersed. It is widely accepted that recollection of long passwords is challenging within the office environment; failure to recollect multiple passwords within the stressful battlefield environment could increase the risk of critical systems failure. The cost of management of forgotten passwords, lost or stolen tokens and smartcards, coupled with the decreasing cost of biometric equipment within the past five years, has meant that biometric technologies are now a viable consideration. The ability to recall randomly generated n-digit passwords in the field compared with the use of visual biometrics for the purposes of authentication makes the latter a preferable alternative. Various biometric technologies have been considered for use within the military, including facial recognition, iris scanning, finger scanning, and voice verification. Iris scanning was deemed to be the most suitable current biometric technology to meet battlefield requirements due to the wide variety of environments in which the military operate, and the equipment and clothing that they are required to wear for protection, e.g. NBC suits, flash masks, oxygen masks etc.; an iris scanning system has already been piloted in the UK