Microsoft Introduces Face Check: A New Solution for Secure Identity Verification

Microsoft has officially launched Face Check, an innovative facial recognition feature within its Entra Verified ID digital identity platform. This capability enables businesses to verify a user's identity by matching a live selfie to their government-issued ID or employee credentials, providing enhanced security for sensitive operations such as password resets and help desk access.

"Instead of competing in a crowded space, we're collaborating with top verification providers to simplify integration for businesses and developers, allowing them to access premium verification services with minimal custom code," said Ankur Patel, Microsoft’s partner product manager for Entra Verified ID.

Face Check utilizes Microsoft’s Azure AI services to securely compare a live selfie with a verified photo ID, prioritizing user privacy. Importantly, only the match results—not sensitive biometric data—are shared with the verifying application. "The user's liveness data is matched with their consent and is not shared; only the match score is transmitted," Patel added.

Early adopters like BEMO, a leader in help desk services, have successfully implemented Face Check for identity verification among their staff, with over 100 BEMO business clients also leveraging this feature.

Entering a competitive identity verification market, Microsoft emphasizes integration over competition. Face Check’s open API approach could facilitate enterprise adoption, particularly as identity verification becomes increasingly vital in the face of rising cyber threats and AI-driven fraud. By embracing open standards instead of proprietary technologies, Microsoft aims to position Entra Verified ID as a comprehensive solution for digital identity management.

With Face Check, Microsoft seeks to streamline multi-factor identity verification across various devices, applications, and platforms, and plans to support additional identity attributes—such as work history and legal entity validation—soon. Currently, Face Check is available in a free preview mode.