Company Description
BIO-key International, Inc. (NASDAQ: BKYI) is an identity and access management (IAM) and biometric authentication company in the information sector. According to its SEC registration statement and recent press releases, BIO-key focuses on biometric-centric, multi-factor IAM software and related hardware that secure access to computers, applications, information, and high-value transactions for millions of users worldwide.
The company describes itself as a leading IAM platform provider for enterprise and large-scale customer and civil ID solutions. Its platforms are built around a biometric core that is one of seventeen strong authentication factors supported by its PortalGuard and PortalGuard IDaaS (identity-as-a-service) offerings. These platforms enable customers to ensure that only authorized individuals can access specific systems, going beyond traditional multifactor authentication by addressing issues such as roving users, account delegation, duplicate identities, and in-person identification requirements.
Business model and core offerings
Based on the S-1 and company news, BIO-key develops and markets biometric-enabled IAM software and fingerprint biometric technologies, along with related credentialing and authentication hardware. Its solutions are designed to support phoneless, tokenless, passwordless, and phishing-resistant authentication. Customers can choose from multiple authentication factors, including biometric options, to match different use cases and security requirements.
The company’s IAM portfolio is centered on the PortalGuard platform, which supports multi-factor authentication (MFA), single sign-on (SSO), and centralized access management. BIO-key also offers identity-bound biometrics (IBB), which anchor authentication to the individual rather than a specific device, token, or credential. This approach is intended to provide strong identity assurance in environments where shared workstations, remote work, or regulated operations make device-based authentication less practical.
BIO-key’s SEC filings indicate that it generates revenue from software license fees, services, and hardware sales. Its biometric platform and FBI-certified scanner hardware are used in large-scale deployments, including a bank that has enrolled and identifies tens of millions of customers using BIO-key fingerprint biometrics in branches on a daily basis. The company also sells branded biometric and Fast Identity Online (FIDO) authentication hardware as accessories to its IAM platforms, while allowing customers to mix and match scanners from different manufacturers within a deployment.
Identity and Access Management focus
In its S-1 overview, BIO-key emphasizes that its customers rely on the PortalGuard and PortalGuard IDaaS platforms to securely access cloud, mobile, and web applications, as well as on-premise and cloud-based servers. Employees, contractors, students, and faculty can sign in through PortalGuard to reach the applications they need without depending on personal phones or per-user hardware tokens. Organizations also use the platform to collaborate securely with supply chain partners and to deliver flexible user experiences for their own customers.
The company highlights that PortalGuard operates as a single MFA user experience with a broad set of authentication choices. Identity-Bound Biometrics and PortalGuard are positioned to address workforce use cases where mainstream MFA solutions may not fully meet operational or security needs, particularly in high-assurance environments.
Biometric and hardware capabilities
According to the S-1, BIO-key’s biometric platform is certified by the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and supports interoperable combinations of fingerprint scanners from different manufacturers. This allows organizations to select appropriate scanners for different use cases without being limited to a single hardware model. The company’s product portfolio, as described in SEC and news materials, includes biometric engines such as WEB-key and certified biometric scanners, including EcoID-branded devices and other FBI-certified readers.
Recent press releases also reference the launch of the EcoID III USB fingerprint scanner, which the company states is FBI FAP 20 certified and incorporates liveness detection and encrypted device-to-host communication. This scanner is designed to support demanding government and enterprise IT environments and is used alongside BIO-key’s IAM software in deployments for military, defense, and intelligence customers.
Cloud, on-premise, and global deployments
BIO-key’s news disclosures describe both cloud-hosted and on-premise deployment options for PortalGuard IAM. The company reports that its software secures access for over forty million users. Its solutions are used across various regions, including Europe, the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, through partnerships with regional distributors and technology firms.
Press releases highlight strategic partnerships with organizations such as SAVIS Group in Vietnam, VaporVM in the Middle East and Africa, and Cloud Distribution in Saudi Arabia. Through these relationships, BIO-key’s IAM and biometric authentication technologies are integrated into broader cybersecurity and digital transformation offerings for enterprises, government agencies, and institutions. The company also participates in industry events and conferences, such as the Gartner Identity & Access Management Summit and Africa Tech Festival, where it showcases its passwordless and identity-bound biometric solutions.
Customer use cases and sectors
Based on company statements in its S-1 and news, BIO-key’s technologies are used in high-assurance environments, including government, defense, finance, and education. The company notes deployments for defense-sector organizations in the Middle East, as well as large-scale banking and civil ID projects. Its IAM and biometric solutions are designed to address challenges such as account compromise, insider misuse, session sharing, and the operational costs associated with passwords and hardware tokens.
Security-conscious software developers also use BIO-key’s APIs and federation interfaces to embed biometric and MFA capabilities into their own applications. The company’s IDaaS approach allows customers to scale security and identity infrastructure for both internal workforce applications and external customer-facing services.
Capital markets and listing status
BIO-key’s common stock trades on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol BKYI. An 8-K dated November 7, 2025, discloses that the company received a Nasdaq notice regarding the minimum bid price requirement and was granted an additional compliance period until May 4, 2026, to regain compliance with the $1.00 bid price rule. The filing states that BIO-key intends to monitor its closing bid price and may effect a reverse stock split if necessary to maintain its Nasdaq listing.
The company has also reported financing activities through warrant exercise agreements and secured promissory notes, as described in its 8-K filings and S-1 registration statement. These transactions are intended to provide working capital and support ongoing operations and growth initiatives.
Corporate governance and shareholder matters
According to its definitive proxy statement (DEF 14A), BIO-key is incorporated in Delaware and holds annual meetings of stockholders to elect directors, ratify the selection of its independent registered public accounting firm, and approve equity compensation plans. The proxy materials describe amendments to the company’s stock incentive and employee stock purchase plans and outline voting procedures for shareholders.
Summary
Overall, BIO-key International, Inc. presents itself in SEC filings and press releases as a biometric-centric IAM software and hardware provider focused on secure, flexible authentication for enterprises and large-scale identity programs. Its business combines cloud and on-premise IAM platforms, identity-bound biometrics, and certified fingerprint scanners, with revenue derived from software licenses, services, and hardware. The company’s Nasdaq-listed stock (BKYI) and ongoing SEC reporting provide investors with regular updates on its financial condition, capital structure, and strategic initiatives.