Security: The Most Basic Human Need

It’s Here To Stay

Well, here in the United States, and abroad, Security is always something which is going to be around us.  Whether it is physical Security, or logical Security, it is here to stay.  Granted, Security is always a field, a market, a profession, a need, a demand (or whatever have you), which has been “there”, ever since 9/11, it is has received heightened interest.  And given the threats and proliferation of Identity Theft, malware, spyware, etc., it will always be there.  But the degree of vigilance and the level to which people are proactive about Security will vary greatly amongst individuals, corporations, cultures, nations, etc. 

Especially here in the United States, we are and for a long time, will remain a lackadaisical and very reactive society, when it comes to Security.  But these are just my views, no need to get back onto this soapbox yet once again.  I think my feelings are well known on this subject.  But it is quite clear that Biometrics and Smart Cards will be one of the Security Technologies of choice to be used, at least throughout the next decade.  These findings have been researched and documented by a market research firm known as “ABI Research”. 

Here are the details into their findings:  “Large scale ID projects have been introduced or virtually completed in the most populated countries in the world. Thus far, adoption rates are strong in developed countries and those with large economies. Now a new wave of adoption, with upgrades to second or third generation documents, is sustaining the market. ABI Research estimates that about 1.5 billion "smart credentials" will be issued through 2014 . . . Research analyst Phil Sealy says, "We expect smart card-based government and healthcare ID products to catch up with and surpass shipment volumes of legacy credentials by 2013. With the ICAO (International Civil Aviation Organization) setting the standards for passports, we expect the penetration of e-passports to hit 89% of the overall installed base in 2016. For other forms of ID, it is the governments themselves that are setting the standards for their citizen documentation and in turn driving the smart card market forward."”  (SOURCE:  http://www.findbiometrics.com/industry-news/i/8953/). 

Final Thoughts On Today’s Posting

However, what is very interesting to note is that a bulk of this demand for Biometrics and Smart Cards will come through the governments around the world (this is no surprise here, as our own Federal Government is the primary contract awarder of Biometrics contracts), focusing that upon healthcare applications.  This market research study cited three primary reasons for this:

*To help combat fraudulent activities;

*Bundling applications into one solid unit, so that this will create efficiencies amongst the governments around the world, and garner a higher level of ROI;

*Make healthcare documents more accessible and secure for those people (primarily healthcare workers and patients) needing them.

This research study forecasts that as many 1.5 billion Smart Cards with Biometric Templates in them will be issued by 2014.  It also makes the observation that a “new wave of adoption” will occur, fueling this growth.  It is my assumption that the primary drivers will be those of the developing nations in Africa and Asia, where the demand of Biometrics continues to skyrocket at even more levels.  This study even ventures to make predictions about the demand and growth for the e-Passport, and it is rather bold, in my opinion.  It is expected to have a market saturation rate of up to 89% by the year of 2016. 

Also, it even provides extrapolations into the demand for the National ID Card, and it is also that at some point in time, this will be strong as well.  A prime example of this is the German National ID Card, which allows services of all kinds and types to its citizens (such as online banking, taxes, etc.), and also it is stated that some 150+ German corporations are bundling their own services into this National ID Card to make life just that much easier and convenient for the citizenry of Germany.  What is my take on all this???  Biometrics and Smart Cards will be here to stay, that is for sure.  But whether or not it becomes the predominant Security Technology of choice still yet remains to be seen.  In my view, I think it is the developing nations which will make Biometrics their primary tool.  It will the developed nations, however, who could take a back seat towards the adoption of Biometrics. 

Why do I say this???  I say this because, in countries, especially those in Europe, could very well reach a market saturation point with regards to Biometrics.  People will always want the latest and greatest, and in that mindset, Biometrics could be a thing of the past.  But in the developing nations, where the need for Security is even stronger, and to be counted in the eyes of their own governments, the thirst for Biometrics will always be there.  Perhaps, this is the key area in which the Biometrics Vendors should look at (especially here in the United States), when it comes to market penetration and revenue growth.

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Psychologist Abraham Maslow first introduced his concept of a hierarchy of needs in his 1943 paper "A Theory of Human Motivation"1 and his subsequent book Motivation and Personality.2 This hierarchy suggests that people are motivated to fulfill basic needs before moving on to other, more advanced needs.

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Needs at the bottom of the pyramid are basic physical requirements including the need for food, water, sleep, and warmth. Once these lower-level needs have been met, people can move on to the next level of needs, which are for safety and security.