By Peter DiMaria, Accu-Time Systems
Businesses know that time is money, and back it up with their investments.
Because businesses put a high value on time and want to monitor it efficiently,
they have created a strong and growing market for automated systems
to manage time & attendance and access control. Biometric-based
ID card systems have proven to be an extremely effective tool for the
front end of the process.
New developments are increasing the biometrics value proposition by
improving back-end integration and management aspects of the technology.
These developments include the advent of open systems, multi-technology
support, compatibility with legacy security infrastructures, and simplified
integration into network environments. Together, these back-end improvements
make biometrics technology easier to implement and support, which ultimately
improves the return-on-investment (ROI) and total cost of ownership
(TCO) for the technology.
Perhaps the most significant development is the availability of new
biometric terminals that can connect directly to Wiegand systems with
no additional wiring or programming required. Now thousands of Wiegand
users can significantly upgrade their security by disconnecting their
old Wiegand readers and plugging biometrics terminals in their place.
By replacing hardware without rewiring, users avoid a major system implementation
expense, one that previously made biometrics cost prohibitive for many
facilities. Wiegand users fully leverage their initial infrastructure
investment, and enjoy a nice boost to their ROI. The new biometric system
would improve user convenience and security while providing a lower
total cost of ownership than upgrades that require rewiring, proving
that security doesn't have to be compromised at budget time.
Software developments are also making it easier to gain more value
from biometrics systems. Smart cards have always been able to store
multiple biometric templates, such as fingerprints, retinal codes or
finger geometry patterns. Users rarely took advantage of this capability
because of the extensive programming that was required to support multiple
file types. Once a system was in place, adding support for a different
type of reading equipment required developing new software and interfaces,
which were typically based on proprietary technology that had to be
learned. Resulting systems were often effective, but not flexible. When
IT personnel left the company, their specialized knowledge - and the
ability to conveniently make changes and add features to applications
- left with them.
There is now commercially available software that independently supports
multiple biometric file types. This key feature greatly simplifies the
integration task, which enables biometrics systems to be implemented
with less time and expense than before. The technology supports multiple
biometric technologies and can be licensed for inclusion in products
for different applications, like time & attendance terminals, electronic
locks and access control systems.
Now, users can mix and match biometric technologies to conveniently
serve different applications like time & attendance recording, access
control or user authentication. For high-security applications, multiple
biometrics can be layered into the application to increase security
exponentially. Flexible software also enables users to add new application
features over time, giving them more value from their initial system
investment.
The development of biometric APIs has also played a positive role in
simplifying application development and technology integration. Several
biometric APIs are currently in the process of becoming international
standards, which ensure interoperability and worldwide support.
Other software developments are extending the range and reach of applications.
Licensable software enables biometric template files to be appended
with additional data, like subject name, height, weight or other information.
Many new applications could be developed to take advantage of the expanded
database capabilities, particularly for transaction security such as
credit card authorization, check cashing validation and retail returns
processing. Improved network support, which enables templates and files
to be easily transferred and shares, extends the reach of these benefits.
Linking applications through the Internet provides the ultimate level
of widespread access.
The improved performance, ease of integration and affordability of
biometrics make these applications, and many others possible. Biometric
use is expanding rapidly because users and integrators are realizing
they do not have to fight new threats with old tools.
Improvements lead to benefits
When a technology's simplicity and ease of use improves, its adoption
grows. As we have seen, biometric technology has improved substantially,
especially in its ability to integrate with other security systems and
information technology infrastructures. For users, these improvements
mean lower implementation costs, lower overall total cost of ownership,
investment protection, and a clear migration path that allows for upgrades.
The technology improvements are especially valuable for systems integrators.
With the time required for custom programming to support new features
and technology sharply reduced, and the need for rewiring eliminated,
systems integrators can improve their margins by developing and implementing
solutions much more quickly and with less manpower. For integrators,
just as for their customers, time is money.
These new technological developments mean that as system security increases,
cost no longer has to increase with it. This new reality is especially
welcome in the current environment, where security needs are growing
faster than budgets.
Companies want to do the right thing. They want to make their employees,
facilities and shipments safer. But improvements tend to be put off
because businesses fear the complexity or cost is too high. Security
has been a low-priority investment area, and the status quo has been
preserved because most businesses chose fiscal responsibility rather
than innovation and investments in new security systems.
Unlike in the past, users no longer have to make a painful choice between
doing what is safe and doing what is affordable. The software support
and simplified integration of modern biometrics systems provides the
flexibility that's needed to significantly upgrade security without
driving up costs.