Archive for January, 2012

Workplace Security with Biometric Systems

Monday, January 30th, 2012

With workplaces becoming more vulnerable to corporate espionage, human resources departments around the world are demanding more stringent security measures. Parallel to this, engineers that specialize in developing security devices have been busy working on creating systems which help meet these demands.

Biometric systems have been able to make use of identification technology on the basis of physiological characteristics which are unique for each individual to make sure that only authorized personnel is given access to areas and departments within any office building, thus ensuring maximum security at the workplace.

Biometric systems quintessentially use technologies such as retinal recognition, facial characteristics recognition, iris eye scan, voice recognition and even fingerprint recognitionfor effective verification and authentication.

Amongst the most common used devices in fingerprint recognition, Nitgen Fingkey Hamster II has been able to make effective use of fingerprinting recognition technology on the basis of common knowledge that no two people can have the same fingerprints. This makes fingerprint recognition far superior to voice recognition whereby, if a system chose to use voice recognition as the criteria of recognition, one may be running the risk of voice imitation.

Systems such as the Nitgen Hamster II are designed to ensure that companies are able to minimize risks with respect to identity theft of existing employees, information fraud and even vandalism after hours. The Nitgen Fingkey Hamster II integrates live finger detection technology, which enables rejection of false fingers thus adding an additional level to your security strategy.

In addition to security, fingerprint readers such as the Nitgen Hamster II also help HR departments maintain attendance records.

Biometric Login – A Gateway to the Electronic World

Wednesday, January 25th, 2012

Today, your computer offers you choices – enter a password, swipe your finger or scan your retina or even your entire face – to access your machine. This resolves a major issue for many of us, that of memorizing passwords. Swiping a finger or scanning the retina is so much more convenient than remembering complicated passwords. Such authentication techniques that rely on measurable physical characteristics and can be automatically checked are called biometrics, and biometric systems are increasingly becoming our gateway to the electronic world.

Several physical characteristics can be used as a key for biometric login. Different biometric devices are designed to capture varied characteristics effectively. Commonly used biometric identification schemes include face, fingerprint, retina, iris and voice. Biometric systems analyse your biometric feature and cross-reference it with an existing database to determine who you are. Based on your identity, it authorizes you different levels of access.

Sophisticated fingerprint scanners, retina scanners and voice recognition machines are now being designed and manufactured to be used across a range of security systems. Biometric computer security systems, attendance systems and hospital record systems have already proliferated our security structures and mechanisms.

Biometric logins are most definitely a far superior option to passwords but there was a spell in the infancy of this technology when malicious individuals found a way around this security system. Using the trail of biometric signatures left behind, fingerprint patterns and voice commands were simulated and used to bypass the biometric systems. However, biometric security experts have found a way to circumvent this issue by way of live finger detection.

Live finger or spoof detection is a sensor technology built into most biometric fingerprint scanners today. These optical scanners can differentiate between actual fingerprints and replicas using active sensing technology, ensuring maximum biometric computer security. These sensors also offer the additional advantage of being immune to electrostatic discharge damage, thus ensuring a prolonged lifespan of the fingerprint scanner.

Leveraging Biometric Devices for Enhanced Security

Monday, January 23rd, 2012

Integrating the use of biometric devices in your workplace enables a substantial boost in your overall security infrastructure. FBI-certified fingerprinting devices such as the Secugen Hamster IV offer robust identification and verification solutions, which ensure utmost security for the information and assets of your business.

Devices such as the Secugen Hamster Plus fingerprint scannerhave proven to be cost-efficient and effective security solutions on multiple levels; especially for those in the banking sector, public sector and other organizations, which deal with sensitive information or high-value products.

1. Organizations that have employed biometric deviceshave been able to significantly reduce risks associated with fraud. This is mainly because of the difficulty in forging biometric identification.

2. Since these devices make use of physical characteristics such as fingerprints or voice; there is no risk of unauthorized entry into restricted areas with the use of lost, borrowed or stolen ID cards.

3. Devices such as the Secugen Hamster IV can be effectively integrated into various operations within the business such as customer and database management applications, to deliver a sustainable, secure and holistic networking facility with well-defined access points for different personnel.

4. Biometric devices such as the Secugen Hamster Plus fingerprint scanner also help authorities to track the whereabouts of employees and suspicious activities through various locations around the office, to further ensure complete security.

In addition to this, employing a biometric system ascertains significant return on investment by supporting additional functions such as attendance and time management.

Fingerprint Scanners: The Most Popular Biometric Devices

Thursday, January 19th, 2012

Biometric systems quintessentially make use of unique human physical characteristics for the purpose of identification and verification of individuals trying to gain access into restricted areas. Most commonly, they check for attributes such as voice and facial patterns, eye scans and fingerprints. Ruling th

Biometric systems quintessentially make use of unique human physical characteristics for the purpose of identification and verification of individuals trying to gain access into restricted areas. Most commonly, they check for attributes such as voice and facial patterns, eye scans and fingerprints. Ruling the roost among biometric devices are fingerprint scanners.

It is a known fact that no two fingerprints can be alike, and each fingerprint consists of unique patterns made out of ridges and furrows. A fingerprint scanner recognizes these patterns to identify the individual trying to gain access to a particular area or a piece of restricted information.

There are multiple reasons behind the raging popularity of fingerprint scanners vis-à-vis alternative biometric devices. Some of them are enumerated below.

1. When compared with devices such as those that use voice patterns for identification, it is evident that fingerprints are more secure. For starters, voices may be easily emulated and they tend to change with a person’s age and health conditions. An example of the latter is when an individual catches cold or suffers from a sore throat. On the other hand, fingerprints remain constant unless tampered with, thus mitigating the risk of access granted to unauthorized and fraudulent individuals.

2. Fingerprint scanners use high-resolution optical imaging systems to identify the finest of patterns, hence ensuring maximum accuracy in identity verification.

3. Today, these biometric systems are no longer bulky and can even be incorporated into touch-based smart phones and laptops. USB fingerprint readers are also commonly employed in medical information systems and e-commerce-based applications.

Because of these benefits, fingerprint scanners enjoy global acceptability among international immigration bodies and consulates. This adds to their image; if they are secure enough for security bigwigs, they become automatically desirable amongst corporate houses, government bodies and such other organisations.

e roost among biometric devices are fingerprint scanners.

It is a known fact that no two fingerprints can be alike, and each fingerprint consists of unique patterns made out of ridges and furrows. A fingerprint scanner recognizes these patterns to identify the individual trying to gain access to a particular area or a piece of restricted information.

There are multiple reasons behind the raging popularity of fingerprint scanners vis-à-vis alternative biometric devices. Some of them are enumerated below.

1.When compared with devices such as those that use voice patterns for identification, it is evident that fingerprints are more secure. For starters, voices may be easily emulated and they tend to change with a person’s age and health conditions. An example of the latter is when an individual catches cold or suffers from a sore throat. On the other hand, fingerprints remain constant unless tampered with, thus mitigating the risk of access granted to unauthorized and fraudulent individuals.

2.Fingerprint scanners use high-resolution optical imaging systems to identify the finest of patterns, hence ensuring maximum accuracy in identity verification.

3.Today, these biometric systems are no longer bulky and can even be incorporated into touch-based smart phones and laptops. USB fingerprint readers are also commonly employed in medical information systems and e-commerce-based applications.

Because of these benefits, fingerprint scanners enjoy global acceptability among international immigration bodies and consulates. This adds to their image; if they are secure enough for security bigwigs, they become automatically desirable amongst corporate houses, government bodies and such other organisations.