Identity and access control solutions specialist HID has unveiled new products at the Security Exhibition & Conference 2025, which commenced in Sydney today.
The two new products include an HID Amico biometric facial recognition reader and a portable OMNIKEY SE Plug authentication reader.
HID says the Amico enables faster and more accurate facial recognition, minimising delays with false rejections.
It also provides advanced security, reducing unauthorised access risks and providing real-time identity verification across high-traffic environments such as healthcare facilities, data centres, government offices and corporate environments.
The new product includes numerous multifactor authentication methods – face, HID Mobile Access and wallet credentials, RFID access cards, QR code and PIN – so that users can select the most convenient way to securely access spaces.
HID notes that the new product is compliant with industry standards around data storage and addresses privacy concerns.
“HID Amico biometric reader safeguards user data through a Template on Card (ToC) functionality that allows biometric data to be securely stored on the user’s credential (currently available on card and soon on mobile device) instead of a centralised database, enhancing privacy protection,” HID’s head of ANZ for physical access control solutions Steve Katanas told Facility Management.
“The reader meets global privacy and security regulations by design, ensuring secure storage and compliance with industry standards.”
The other new product being showcased at the security expo is HID’s OMNIKEY SE Plug, a portable reader that addresses the increasing need for on-the-go authentication to workstations for employees.
The OMNIKEY SE Plug is ideal for remote work or travel where employees need secure access. It supports FIDO2 and multi-factor authentication, leveraging public key cryptography to prevent phishing and credential theft.
Its cable-free design, paired with plug-and-play functionality, allows it to be compatible with multiple devices, including smartphones, tablets and laptops. Its asymmetric USB-C connector enables users to rotate the reader 180 degrees, minimising port obstruction.
HID says the reader could have extensive applications in fields such as healthcare (e.g. secure access to electronic medical records), emergency services, retail and logistics, professional services or government agencies.
It can also deliver passwordless authentication to several applications where remote access is needed, such as aiding natural disaster response by enabling emergency services employees to quickly access highly secured centralised systems remotely.
Unlike many traditional RFID readers, the SE Plug seamlessly integrates both standard ISO 14443 A/B, ISO 15693 credentials, and mobile NFC use cases — such as HID Mobile Access, Google Wallet, and Apple Wallet — further extending usage scenarios for organisations transitioning to contactless and mobile-first authentication methods.
“The single biggest advantage of the OMNIKEY SE Plug over other RFID readers in the market is its unparalleled portability and broad multi-device compatibility, enabled by its ultra-compact, cable-free USB-C design that supports plug-and-play secure authentication on laptops, tablets, and smartphones across multiple operating systems,” HID’s senior regional sales manager, RFID-EAT, identification technologies Eric Leung told Facility Management.
In addition to the two new products, HID’s recently launched products, including its FIDO-enabled cards and Mercury Intelligent controllers, are also showcased at the expo.
FIDO and FIDO-Enabled Cards deliver phishing-resistant authentication with enterprise-grade lifecycle management, facilitating scalable passwordless security accessible to organisations of all sizes.
HID’s one-card solution combines its physical access control portfolio with FIDO-based, passwordless access to both physical spaces and business applications.
Its Mercury MP Intelligent Controllers, meanwhile, facilitate interoperability of secure access technologies by integrating controllers, Internet of Things (IoT) devices, elevators, readers and other physical access systems.
The Mercury platform supports third-party application integration and allows custom business logic to run directly on the controller.
Read more: Five essential factors to future-proof physical access control systems
