Biometric, Passwordless Authentication for Modern Manufacturing Plants
Background
Manufacturing plants run on complex, integrated systems. Legacy authentication methods such as passwords, PIN codes, and badges create friction on the production floor and expose manufacturing operations to credential theft, downtime, and compliance failures.
Manufacturers now require a secure, fast, and reliable authentication method that works across shop floors, control rooms, and industrial workspaces—even in harsh environments.
AuthenTrend provides a biometric, passwordless authentication solution that strengthens identity security without slowing down production.
Challenges
1. Shared Locations and Shared Devices
Manufacturing floors rely heavily on:
Shared workstations
Rotational shift devices
HMI panels and rugged tablets
Password fatigue and need of streamlining these devices use result in:
Credential sharing between workers
“Always logged in” devices
Time lost at shift changes
A secure solution must enable personal authentication on shared devices but does not add burden to the workers.
2. Multiple Authentication Methods for Physical and Digital Access
Workers depend on:
Physical access systems for gates, warehouses, and restricted areas
Digital access for ERP, MES, SCADA, inventory tools, and maintenance software
Using separate authentication methods creates:
Need for multiple authenticators per worker
Burden on the IT staff that needs to handle multiple systems
Manufacturing needs one credential that secures both physical and digital workflows.
3. Multiple System Interfaces Across the Plant
Factories operate with diverse device types:
Windows and Linux PCs
Tablets and handheld scanners
Industrial terminals
NFC readers, USB ports, and Smart Card interfaces
Authentication must be universal, working reliably across all interfaces and environments online or offline.
ATKey.Badge – A Unified Credential for the Entire Factory
ATKey.Badge is a biometric protected, multi-interface authentication device designed specifically for environments where workers move across locations, devices, and access points.
It combines three powerful capabilities into one badge:
Fingerprint authentication (biometric identity)
USB, NFC, and Smart Card access
Passwordless login powered by FIDO2
This makes ATKey.Badge the ideal solution for factories balancing physical access control and digital security.
How ATKey.Badge Addresses the Challenges
1. Solves Shared Location & Shared Device Access
Personal identity verification via fingerprint, even on shared HMIs or terminals
Offline biometric verification works in areas with poor connectivity
Eliminates the need for shared passwords or generic operator accounts
Result: Every worker authenticates securely in seconds—no friction during shift changes.
2. Unifies Physical & Digital Authentication in One Device
ATKey.Badge replaces multiple credentials with one biometric badge that works for:
Physical entry (NFC/Smart Card readers at gates, doors, restricted areas)
Digital login (USB/NFC for PCs, tablets, SCADA consoles, ERP/MES platforms)
This reduces:
Credential clutter
Security inconsistencies
Administrative complexity
Result: One badge control everything reducing risks, management effort, and user confusion.
3. Works Across All Industrial Interfaces
ATKey.Badge supports:
USB for workstations, engineering PCs, and Android-based devices
NFC for tablets or handheld scanners
Smart Card mode for legacy industrial authentication
FIDO2 for secure passwordless cloud or on-prem systems
It enables secure access to:
ERP (SAP, Oracle, Microsoft)
MES & SCADA platforms
Maintenance applications
Corporate IT systems
Result: A single badge works everywhere, regardless of the device or system architecture.
Conclusion
ATKey.Badge brings security and efficiency together in a way that fits the realities of modern manufacturing. By unifying physical and digital authentication into a single biometric badge, it eliminates the complexity of managing multiple credentials while ensuring that every worker can access systems and workstations quickly and securely—no matter where they are on the plant floor.
The badge’s multi-interface design works seamlessly across PCs, tablets, industrial terminals, and access-control systems, giving manufacturers a consistent and reliable authentication experience across their entire operation. With ATKey.Badge, factories reduce downtime, strengthen identity protection, and simplify workforce management, creating a safer and more productive environment for every shift.
AuthenTrend empowers manufacturing organizations to modernize their access strategy with a solution built for speed, security, and operational resilience—supporting the digital factory today and in the future.
