Princeton Identity’s Iris Recognition Technology Solves Security Challenges for Auburn University’s Athletic Department
Alabama’s Auburn University has updated and expanded the biometric identity system it uses to secure areas within its athletic facilities. Princeton Identity’s new IDS software and Access200 iris readers allow student athletes, coaches and other affiliated team members enrolled in the system to unlock the doors to team locker rooms by glancing at small reader panels mounted outside each entrance. As athletes and coaches rarely carry personal items with them onto the field, the Princeton Identity system eliminates the need for access control cards, fobs, or PIN codes, which can be difficult to manually enter when carrying equipment. It also increases security. Biometric credentials make it impossible for students to share cards or codes with others, while the system’s convenience factor reduces the desire for students to leave doors propped open for easier access.
The new IDS software is browser-based, providing greater flexibility to school administrators responsible for enrolling students and managing the system. The system’s Access200e enrollment camera is a stand-alone unit that can be plugged into any network jack without need for special software or drivers, allowing enrollment to occur from any web-enabled device, including tablets and laptops. Permissions are handled through an integration with the university’s Lenel OnGuard access control system. When students leave a team or graduate, their permissions are turned off. However, as iris signatures remain stable over time, if students or staff return to the program — even years later — there is no need for re-enrollment. Their permissions are simply reactivated.