Microsoft Releases Face Check Identity Verification for Enterprise Use

Face Check with Microsoft Entra Verified ID, a consent-based method used to confirm a person's identity, is now available in general release.

First announced and released in preview in February of this year, Face Check, powered by Azure AI services, enhances identity verification by matching a user’s real-time selfie with the photo on their Verified ID, which typically originates from trusted sources like passports or driver's licenses. The Face Check service analyzes specific facial features, like the position of the eyes and nose, rather than the entire face, to generate a confidence score indicating whether the two photos are a match.

Organizations can set their preferred confidence score threshold for accepting a Face Check verification. A higher threshold decreases the chances of an impersonator being mistakenly accepted. At the default and recommended confidence score of 70 percent, the likelihood that a user is not the rightful credential owner is one in 10 million. Raising the threshold to 90 percent reduces the likelihood to one in one billion. However, Microsoft said that the higher the threshold, the more likely that a verified user might be rejected, so it's recommended that enterprises find the right balance that works for their organization.

The new feature is part of Microsoft Entra Verified ID, a managed verifiable credential service that enables organizations to create customized, user-owned identity solutions, fostering trustworthy, secure and efficient interactions between individuals and organizations, according to Microsoft.

Microsoft touts the service as another layer to strengthen enterprise security and protect organizational data. "By sharing only match results and not any sensitive identity data, Face Check strengthens an organization's identity verification while protecting user privacy," said Microsoft's Ankur Patel. "It can detect and reject various spoofing techniques, including deepfakes, to fully protect your users' identities."

Organizations can also leverage Face Check for more than just security. Because the technology is built on open source standards, IT can custom build their own APIs, connecting employee faces to automated tasks, like automatically connecting users to password resets and virtual help desk assistance.

Enterprises can sign up for Face Check with Microsoft Entra Verified ID as a standalone service, priced at $0.25 per verification or users can access it as a feature within the Microsoft Entra Suite.

For more information, visit the Microsoft site.

About the Author

Chris Paoli (@ChrisPaoli5) is the associate editor for Converge360.

Featured

  • stylized illustration of a desktop, laptop, tablet, and smartphone all displaying an orange AI icon

    Report: AI Shifting from Cloud to PCs

    AI is shifting from the cloud to PCs, offering enhanced productivity, security, and ROI. Key players like Intel, Microsoft (Copilot+ PCs), and Google (Gemini Nano) are driving this on-device AI trend, shaping a crucial hybrid future for IT.

  • school building connected by lines to symbols of AI, data charts, and a funding document with a dollar sign

    ED Issues Guidance on the Use of Federal Grant Funds to Support Learner Outcomes with AI

    In response to President Trump's April 23 Executive Order on advancing AI education, the United States Department of Education has issued new guidance on how K-12 and higher education institutions may use federal grant funds "to support improved outcomes for learners through the responsible integration of artificial intelligence."

  • handshake between two individuals with AI icons (brain, chip, network, robot) in the background

    Microsoft, Amazon Announce New Commitments to Support Presidential AI Challenge

    At the Sept. 4 meeting of the White House Task Force on Artificial Intelligence Education, Microsoft and Amazon unveiled new commitments to expanding AI education and skills training.

  • student reading a book with a brain, a protective hand, a computer monitor showing education icons, gears, and leaves

    4 Steps to Responsible AI Implementation

    Researchers at the University of Kansas Center for Innovation, Design & Digital Learning (CIDDL) have published a new framework for the responsible implementation of artificial intelligence at all levels of education.