In which situation might an organization prefer a higher false rejection rate (FRR) over a higher false acceptance rate (FAR) in biometric systems?

A higher false rejection rate (FRR) may be preferred over a higher false acceptance rate (FAR) in situations where security takes precedence over usability. When an organization prioritizes security, it is crucial to ensure that unauthorized individuals cannot gain access, which is what a higher FAR could potentially allow.

In biometric systems, a false acceptance (granting access to an unauthorized user) poses significant security risks, making it critical to minimize this possibility. By accepting a higher FRR, the system is more stringent in its checks, leading to fewer false acceptances and ensuring that only legitimate users can gain access, even if this means that some legitimate users might be incorrectly denied access occasionally.

Organizations may implement a structured appeals process or secondary authentication methods to assist legitimate users who face these higher rejection rates, thus balancing security needs with user experience. This approach reflects a risk management strategy where protecting sensitive information or resources is the primary concern, even at the cost of occasional inconvenience to authenticated users.