IdentityX, an international biometric authentication technology company headquartered in Fairfax, has updated its mobile authentication platform, called the Infinity Platform, to work with iOS.
The update brings the security of fingerprint authentication—rather than keyed-in passwords—to banking and health care mobile apps.
The Infinity platform was already integrated with fingerprint-enabled Windows and Android devices; two days after Apple's release of Touch ID to third parties, the platform was in beta for iOS.
"Your phone should know you," explains Conor White, president of IdentityX. "It should authenticate you. The Infinity platform works with your smart phone. Biometrics are going mainstream."
Touch ID is Apple's fingerprint-recognition feature, released in 2013 on the iPhone 5S. Initially the feature was used only by Apple, for users to unlock their phones securely, but on June 2, Apple opened Touch ID to third-party developers--like IdentityX.
The platform uses multiple factors—including face, voice, fingerprint, PIN and even GPS—to authenticate a user's identity. Since IdentityX is for enterprises, consumers will see a change when a service they use, such as a bank or healthcare provider, licenses IdentityX. "When you open a banking app on your phone," White explains, "you might be asked to give your fingerprint, instead of entering a PIN number. It's a more positive user experience."
Providing a fingerprint is also obviously more secure. "It's far easier to break into a system with a password," White says. "I can't lose my face. I can't lose my fingers. This raises the bar. [Biometric authentication] makes it easier for consumers to adopt a higher security profile."
In addition to launching the iOS beta, IdentityX is looking into opening an office on the West coast. In addition to the Fairfax headquarters, the company has offices in Europe, Asia and Australia. There are roughly 150 people on staff worldwide; about 55 work in Fairfax. White would like a few more to join in the cybersecurity fun locally. "We are looking for mobile engineers, security architects and biometric scientists," he says.