AWS Introduces Amazon One Palm-Scanning Authentication for Enterprises

Table of Contents: AWS Introduces Amazon One Palm-Scanning Authentication for Enterprises

• Amazon’s subsidiary, AWS, has launched a new palm scan identity service for physical premises authentication
• The new service, called Amazon One, offers biometric payment and access control using palm prints
• Amazon is expanding the service to Whole Foods stores and partnering with third-party retailers
• Amazon One can potentially replace multiple forms of identification, such as badges and passwords
• Companies can choose between standalone scan devices or mounted pedestals for enrollment and access control
• Amazon emphasizes the privacy and security of user data, with strong data isolation and automatic deletion of biometric information

Amazon’s subsidiary, AWS, has launched a new palm scan identity service for physical premises authentication

Amazon Web Services (AWS), a subsidiary of Amazon, has introduced a groundbreaking palm scan identity service, offering a unique authentication method for physical premises. This innovative technology enables companies to authenticate individuals entering their physical premises, enhancing security and convenience. The announcement was made during AWS’s annual re:Invent conference, held in Las Vegas recently.

Amazon One, the new service from AWS, builds upon the company’s existing biometric payment system, Amazon One, which was initially introduced to enable palm-based payments at Amazon Go cashierless stores. Now, Amazon One expands its capabilities to include access control and authentication beyond just payments. Associates at Amazon Go stores can now use their palm prints to enter the stores and complete transactions by simply hovering their hands over a scanner.

While the technology raises concerns about Amazon’s management of biometric data, the company assures that it intervenes to protect user privacy. In the past year, Amazon has doubled down on its technology offerings, providing cash incentives to entice customers to enroll their palm prints. Plans are underway to expand the service to Whole Foods stores in the US through a partnership with a third-party retailer.

The new service, called Amazon One, offers biometric payment and access control using palm prints

Amazon One is a new biometric payment and access control service that uses palm prints for authentication. It allows enrolled individuals to enter physical premises, make payments, and access certain restricted software systems by simply hovering their palm over a scanner. Amazon One Enterprise, the company’s enterprise-grade offering, extends this technology to businesses, enabling them to deploy contactless authentication devices in various locations, including offices, university campuses, airports, and more. By leveraging Amazon One Enterprise, companies can enhance security, convenience, and efficiency, replacing traditional identification methods like badges, fobs, passwords, and PINs. The service offers strong data privacy measures, ensuring that palm prints are securely stored in a separate, highly isolated AWS Cloud environment, and users have the option to delete their biometric data at any time. Amazon One Enterprise is currently available in preview in the United States, with plans to expand to additional regions in the future.

Amazon is expanding the service to Whole Foods stores and partnering with third-party retailers

Amazon is making significant strides in expanding its palm scan identification service, initially introduced in Amazon Go stores, to Whole Foods Market stores and partnering with third-party retailers. This service allows people to authenticate their identities and enter physical premises by hovering their palm over a scanner. The technology leverages Amazon One’s enterprise-grade data privacy and security infrastructure, ensuring that palm prints are securely stored and encrypted in the cloud. Customers can enroll their palm prints at Whole Foods Market stores in the US, and Amazon One is also exploring partnerships with third-party retailers. This expansion marks Amazon’s continued commitment to providing innovative and convenient solutions for access control and authentication.

Amazon One can potentially replace multiple forms of identification, such as badges and passwords

Amazon One can potentially replace multiple forms of identification, such as badges, fobs, and passwords that are typically used to access buildings and software. Companies that want to install Amazon One Enterprise have the choice of two scanning devices: standalone kiosks or embedded devices wherever needed like doorways or barriers. Once the device is mounted, employees can enroll in Amazon One Enterprise using their physical badge and associating their palm print to their profile. During normal authentication, instead of swiping a badge or entering a password or PIN, the employee simply hovers their hand over the scanner. While Amazon’s new enterprise palm-scanning service clearly builds on the technology and infrastructure developed for its consumer-facing offerings, the company is keen to stress that this is a distinct system that people will use to authenticate themselves in enterprise settings.

Companies can choose between standalone scan devices or mounted pedestals for enrollment and access control

Companies can choose between standalone scan devices or pedestal-mounted devices for enrollment and access control. Standalone devices are portable and can be placed anywhere, while pedestal-mounted devices are more permanent and can be used in high-traffic areas. Both types of devices can be used with Amazon One, allowing companies to choose the best option for their needs. Amazon One is a cloud-based service that allows companies to authenticate people when they enter physical premises. The service uses palm scanning technology to create a unique identifier for each person, which is then used to grant access to buildings, rooms, or other secure areas. Amazon One is designed to be highly secure and private, and it does not store any images of people’s palms.

Amazon emphasizes the privacy and security of user data, with strong data isolation and automatic deletion of biometric information

Amazon’s palm scan identification service, introduced during their annual AWS re:Invent conference, emphasizes robust privacy and security measures. The service isolates biometric data and automatically deletes it after use, ensuring the protection of user information. Moreover, the technology is user-centric, allowing individuals to enroll their palm prints voluntarily. Amazon’s focus on privacy sets it apart from other palm scanning technologies, addressing concerns about potential surveillance and misuse of biometric data.