Archive for the ‘Biometric Access Control & Attendance’ Category

Biometric Access Control Systems for Media Houses

Thursday, April 12th, 2012

Which is that one element that aims to bridge the gap between the public and areas like politics, Hollywood and the stock market? The answer would most probably point towards media. Without newspapers, television, radio, Internet etc. it is difficult for us to know and trace everything that is going on in the United States, as well as the world at large. In times of crisis, especially, journalism and social media plays a monumental role in passing on the correct information to people and preventing panic.

The role of media personnel is extremely tricky as they usually possess extremely sensitive information that needs to be presented in a neutral way. It is crucial that this information does not get leaked and remains in safe hands. The ideal way to ensure this is with the help of biometric access control systems.

Using physical elements like fingerprints and the iris, these access control systems limit the exposure of sensitive data to authorized people only. For example, a USB fingerprint scanner will only unlock the computer or the document locker when it identifies the correct fingerprint. Thus, with the help of face or fingerprint access control, a journalist can rest assured that his story is safe even when he is away from the desk or the office.

Besides offering protection, biometric access control protocol and, especially, fingerprint access control systems make security measures extremely user-friendly. This mitigates the need to remember lengthy passwords and wait to pass through layers of security. All that is required is an authorized fingerprint and a USB fingerprint scanner. Additionally, these scanners may be easily integrated with existing systems. This makes it convenient for a journalist to carry biometric-enabled laptops for field visits, interviews, events, etc.

Another chief feature of access control systems is that it helps maintain a record of each user. This can be used for both; checking the list of users for a particular computer or locker, and keeping a list of in-out time as well as attendance of employees. Considering all of these features on offer, biometric systems have proved ideal for media houses.

Biometric Access Control Systems: Ideal Checkpointsat Movie Theatres

Friday, February 17th, 2012

The new Tom Cruise movie is out, and you can’t wait to watch it!Finally, you pick a day to watch it with your friends and plan to buy the tickets online. However, by the time you get off work and reach the movie theatre, you find yourself at the end of a long queue at the security and baggage check counter. This causes you to miss the first few exciting minutes of the movie. At this point, all you can do is sigh in frustration, curse all and sundry. Some among you may even wish for the reel life, in which you could use technology to beat the queues.

Well, technology has provided a solution in the form of biometric access control systems. Picture this alternative reality: you reach the theatre and don’t even have to look for a copy of the ticket. All you need to do is place your finger on the USB fingerprint scanner that will identify you as the purchaser of a ticket in their database. You even get your seat number automatically.If a few friends decide to join you at the last minute, you may even use your fingerprints to buy their tickets at the venue. The fingerprint software would connect directly to your financial source and book tickets automatically.

While we have seen the benefits of fingerprint software fingerprint software for moviegoers, let’s not forget the theatre owner. The convenience offered by USB fingerprint scanners would attract moviegoers by the hordes, making the investment profitable for the theatre owner. Plus, handling baggage safety shelves would become easier with the help of fingerprint software that is integrated with your computer. This takes away the need of distributing tokens or slips that may be easily misplaced. Biometric access control systems will let you manage and keep records of all customers, hence creating a strong database for the owner. At the same time, they also ensure security and safety at the location.

Irresistible Caffeine Urge? Let a Biometric Reader get You the Perfect Cup of Coffee

Friday, February 10th, 2012

Fingerprint software is commonly associated with spy thrillers and futuristic identification systems. At their most mundane, they may remind you of authorization control systems at your workplace. While biometric readers are arguably the best security solutions in the market today, they may soon be used to create the perfect cup of Joe, too! If this surprises you, read further.

Recently, an electronic giant created a coffee maker featuring an automated fingerprint identification system. The device creates a profile based on an individual client’s coffee preference. Next, it uses fingerprint software to scan their fingerprint. The biometric and coffee preference data is stored on their profile.

The next time the client wants coffee, all they need to do is place their finger on the scanner and let the automated fingerprint identification system match it with its database. In a moment, their preference would be taken into account and a steaming, hot cup of coffee would literally be at their fingertips.

The most obvious benefit of this system is that it helps you skip the long-drawn process of selecting quantity and ingredients for your coffee. Plus, you may even program the machine to brew the perfect coffee at specific time intervals;a ‘caffeine alarm clock’, so to say. In this respect, it doubles up as your secretary!

As we see, biometric readers are rapidly going beyond their basic scope of security management to enter various arenas of everyday life.An increasing number of organizations are adopting this technology to enhance productivity and automate processes within the workplace.

Access Control Systems – No Compromise

Thursday, December 1st, 2011

Security for control systems of an organization have always been of paramount importance. Passwords are the traditional form of validation and access control, evolved from cipher text to encryption keys and randomly generated passkeys. Every organization and institution has complex access control systems to secure their data and processes. Yet, in light of recent data breaches in large organizations, it is clear that passwords are vulnerable. Any method that depends on human allegiance in their constancy or memory has proven to be, for various reasons, a compromised system.

An excellent alternative to password-centric authentication systems is biometric technology. Every human has several biological prints that are unique, such as fingerprints, voice timbre and iris. Research and development in biometric technology have given us fingerprint scanners, iris scanners and voice recognition machines. In combination with the right software and modularization, these produce great access control systems – biometric access control.

Biometric systems are personalized and multi-layered, making valuable data secure against attacks. The use of biometric access control ensures that authorized individuals are identified and granted access to systems.

Of all biometric systems, fingerprint access control systems are the most feasible for implementation, from both technical and economical perspectives. Fingerprint access control identifies an individual instead of code and matches biometric prints with a predefined database, permitting access to only authorized personnel. These systems have gained acceptance in most places with high-security requirements, including banks and hospitals.

Fingerprint and other biometric control systems are increasingly being used in place of password-based systems to grant access and even regulate attendance and payroll.

Fingerprint Access Control Systems

Monday, November 21st, 2011

Biometric access control systems like fingerprint access control system offer a superior level of security than other access control systems like cards or passwords because biometric readers identify individuals, not cards or passwords. Earlier, only high security offices or institutions were able to install biometric access control systems, but now, the cost of biometric access control systems have become equal to traditional card based access control systems.

Biometric access control systems use biometric scanners as a means to provide authentications. The most common biometric access control systems are fingerprint readers, iris scanners and retina scanners. These access control systems are quite sophisticated compared to traditional methods and they give an extremely high level of security. Cards and other such devices offer big advantages compared to keys, but they can be stolen or lost by people. Biometric access control systems on the other hand, rely on unique, physical characteristics of each and every authorised user.

The most common use for biometric access control systems like fingerprint access control system, is the history log. The ability to identify who entered a controlled area and when has proven to be a well appreciated system feature. Unlike security systems which rely of keys, a biometric access control will deter misuse as individuals will know that the access control system is recording their time and date of access. Hence, they are held accountable for their actions.When a person wishes to enter a controlled door, the access control system searches a database and establishes whether the person is authorised to enter or not. If the person is granted access, the system records the date and time of entry along with the identity of the person for future reference.

Biometric access control systems have revolutionised the way businesses limit entry to secure areas in a building. Relying on keys, cards, passwords or other similar devices can be a serious problem for companies as these can be easily copied, stolen or hacked a long time before someone notices that something is amiss. Access control systems like fingerprint access control systems provide many benefits since they use several authentication methods fingerprint, passwords, smart cards. These access control systems are guaranteed to improve the security of any facility they are installed in.

Fingerprint Access Control

Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

Passwords are still the weakest link in a security system. Biometric access control systems would have prevented the recent data breaches at Sony and Gawker.

There are a plethora of examples one can give of security breaches where a company didn’t just incur millions of dollars in damage, they also lost the trust of their customers. Access control systems that still use the traditional password system are still in danger of security breaches that could happen at any time. Even in the face of such examples, companies still make simple mistakes like using weak passwords and not changing them often. According to some reports, more than 70% of security breaches are carried out with the help of an insider who exploits his or her access to service and administrative accounts even after they have left the company a long time ago.

The recent security breaches at Sony and Gawker highlight the vulnerability of the password system. Phishing or key loggers can easily be used to steal the password, among various other methods that exist.

Security experts say that an organization should have a more personalized and multilayered approach in order to make their valuable data more secure from cyber attacks. Furthermore, companies do not wish to cause any inconvenience to their users and employees and, therefore, do not take the steps necessary to ensure a more fool-proof security system. What is required is a security system that identifies a person instead of a code. This is where Biometric access control systems come into play, especially fingerprint access control systems.

The use of such access control systems will guarantee that only the correct individual is identified and granted access to the system. Fingerprint access control systems save the unique fingerprint of a person in its database and grant access only to them. This is the most efficient manner in which the movement of people in a system can be monitored.

A modern and technologically advanced fingerprint access control system is equipped with a scanner that captures a high resolution image of the fingerprint. These systems have gained acceptance in a number of places like banks, hospitals, etc. and are increasingly being used in place of password systems to mark attendance and grant access.

Why do you need audit trail with your Fingerprint Access Control and what to expect from the Audit Trail

Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

The term ‘audit trail’ means record of data or transactions that a firm carried out over a specific time period. The audit trail is used both commercial and residential fingerprint door locks and fingerprint scanner.

In commercial area audit trail is very beneficial to keep track of many things. To find out which door the employees use, whether they were at work place on time, if some unauthorized person attempted to get access and so on.

In residential area also biometric systems such as biometric door lock systems has been increasingly used because of the number of benefits it has to offer to the residents. It helps the house owner keep a tab on their kids. Through audit trail, parents will know when their kids left home or when they got back home. It also can aid the house owner to know when the cleaning company came to clean their home. Apart from this the home owners can also keep a check on any unauthorized entry in to the house when they are not home or when their children are alone at home.

The Fingerprint access control with Audit Trail is available in the market under various brands and with different features. Most of these access systems let the users store up to almost 50 fingerprints in the system.

The fingerprint door locks with audit trail’s software can be installed onto your PC, this software will enable you to keep a check on the on the biometric door lock every time it is used. And the records can be maintained on your PC.

With audit trail in finger print access control help you to detect violations in the security. This system has proved of great help to the security personnel in detecting what and when had actually happened.

In short, using a computer interface, Audit trail with fingerprint access control helps in reporting purposes; the administrator can access and print the list of events during a specific period. In case if key is used to unlock the door, no audit report is available, this is because the key cylinder is not linked to the electronics of the tracking system.

5 Reasons why enterprises should choose Fingerprint Access Control Systems over Card based Access Control Systems

Thursday, August 18th, 2011

In the 21st century institutions have replaced the manual control system with access control systems to record arrivals and departure of their employees on a routine basis. Today, Fingerprint access control system have become the most popular biometric devices. The following are the reasons to choose a Fingerprint Access control system over card based access control system in an enterprise:

Reason# 1 – Efficiency

In Finger access control Systems, the data is stored in terms of biometric components of signs or patterns. It is accurate as each fingerprint is unique in itself. The fingerprints are selected, memorized and converted into an template form for storage. While in card system, the bar codes are the only way to punch into the machine, which can be deleted, tapered or can be left unrecognized by the machine in not so genuine cases.

Reason #2 – Easy to step-up

The fingerprinting software and device is easy set up as the installation of software is via the web. The software connects with the biometric fingerprint reader and starts the job unlike the card access control system, in which we need to add the identification data, as proposed by the association or the enterprise.

Reason #3 – Advanced technology support

The fingerprint scanner supports various languages and Windows server integration for better tracking, while the card access system does not allow these facilities.

Reason # 4 – Eliminates duplicity

The fingerprinting device is very sensitive to touch and recognizes the pattern in milliseconds. These are basically live detectors which help in easy, safe and accurate analysis of the ID of the workers. But, the card reader only checks or reads the bar code, which may be created or fabricated. Therefore, the process of biometric identification is truly genuine which reduces duplicity and fraud.

Reason # 5 – Cost effective

Fingerprint access control allows identification of 50 to 500 individuals. Therefore, the organization can easily add or delete the number of users without any extra payroll cost. Whereas in card based systems the company will have to issue cards to every new employee. In case the card is lost or misplaced new card has to be issued which is an added cost to the company.

Thus, it can be said that even though both the access systems are technology based, fingerprint access control is much more reliable, accurate and quick than card based access control system.

Top 5 Reasons to Consider Griaule Fingerprint SDK

Tuesday, July 26th, 2011

Fingerprint matching is a task that most of us are familiar with. The administration and various centers use this application of the biometric to secure themselves. Fingerprinting is a part of a unique identifying system which has helped millions to recognize, stay viable and moreover deal with thousands of identifications. It supports various applications like windows, Linux, web and enterprise development. The Griaule SDK is one of the best detection systems in the world. The reasons to mull over this software are many.

  1. Easily Taught: This biometric sdk is hassle free. Since this supports multiple languages, the samples are provided with the kit so that it is easily learnt for immediate usage. It supports variety programming languages which run easily in windows or the Linux form.
  2. Template Consolidation: This Biometric identification system, tries to defy the more-data-more-accuracy system. This improves the rate of recognition of the fingerprint by improving the quality of the pattern, thus reducing the desire to take many samples and hence the data automatically shrinks. This also makes it efficient and less time consuming. With the kit, you can easily integrate software, web applications through a single line of code.
  3. Freedom of sensor input: The Griaule SDK supports more than 25 fingerprint scanners. This allows you to use multiple readers even after you change the application. Thus making it user friendly with the suitability of the reader, without making any code changes. The biometric identification also supports world’s top most recognition scanners namely, Secugen, Nitgen, Digital Persona, Futronic, Crossmatch fingerprint reader etc.
  4. Speed and accuracy: This is a highly accurate fingerprint software, which identifies many fingerprints and at the speed of 35,000 prints in a flash of a second.
  5. Maintenance tools: The Griaule software detection kit comes with a support mechanism, which helps with the technical issues and also provides the online activation. This kit comes with its own drivers and so there is hardly any need of a manufacturer’s driver. It uniquely offers interchange and interoperability of biometric data.

Besides all this, software detection of fingerprints is actually simplified with this kit which was developed in 2009. The biometric SDK can be used for time and transaction checking, physical authentication or in the authorized system. It also offers Java, activeX OCX, DLL, and .net component. Highly efficient for business purposes, this one has high compatibility with languages. The Software development comes for fingerprinting can be best recognized by its reliability and validity for a long time.

Why retail industry should use fingerprint systems for workforce management

Tuesday, July 19th, 2011

The retail industry is experiencing huge losses due to absenteeism, more so cause of ‘buddy punching’ or ‘ghost punching’. Buddy punching is when a colleague logs in and logs out for another employee. An international research company, Nucleus Research has stated that buddy punching has resulted in huge payroll losses for a large number of organizations. According to this research company, use of biometric devices like fingerprint access control can eradicate buddy punching which can account for more than $4 million annually for an organization with 5,000 employees.

The concept of fingerprint attendance can optimize the workforce and help the retail industry in encouraging high employee attendance. At the point of entry, a fingerprint reader is installed to a time clock and every employee has to scan his/her finger to log in and to log out. Because of the uniqueness of fingerprints, colleagues will not be able to buddy punch for other employees in the company. A biometric door lock will provide a unique way of staff identification, resulting in better workforce management.

Fingerprint attendance allows accurate identification for each employee. It notes the log in and log out time of every employee thus providing proper account of extra work hours and number of leaves taken. Fingerprint time and attendance systems like BayClock 2200 and BayClock 3000 GPRS provide fingerprint access control in retail industries. Retail industries are always looking for ways to optimize labor and improve payroll processing. Implementation of such attendance systems helps them achieve a smooth workflow and administration.

There are a variety of models, with different features and capabilities of fingerprint systems available in the market today. Before investing into one, retail industries should define and prioritize their requirements and then go for the product that fits their business and technical requirements. The system should suit the physical environment of the industry and the number of employees in the organization. Apart from using these attendance systems to log employee attendance, installing biometric door lock can prevent unauthorized physical access and improve human resource productivity.