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News Analysis
Touch and go
Fingerprint scanners are a viable option for physical and
computer security, says Vertika Yadav
Fingerprint-based identification has been in use for a long time. Everyone
has unique and immutable fingerprints which are made up of a series of ridges
and furrows.
Fingerprints interest companies because they are losing a significant amount
of revenue due to the proxy punching that takes place with card-based time attendance
systems since one employee can easily swipe another’s card. With a fingerprint-based
system, however, physical presence is essential to mark your attendance.
In India, BioEnable Technologies manufactures and exports
fingerprint-based time attendance and access control systems, offering hardware
and software with customisation. The company also offers other fingerprint-based
solutions for applications such as PCs, security for Internet Banking, ATMs
and call centres.
Access granted
Fingerprint recognition is the front-runner among mass-market biometric-ID systems.
It is a good choice for in-house systems because users can be easily trained,
and the device is operated in a controlled environment. The small size of a
fingerprint scanner, the ease of integration that lets it easily adapt to keyboards,
and the relatively low cost make it an affordable choice for workplace-access
security. For time attendance and access control systems, the price depends
on the number of users. BioEnable Technologies offers the system for 100 to
10,000 users, and the price ranges between Rs 15,000 and Rs 1 lakh. For solutions
such as Internet banking and visitor management, prices depend on the software
and the customisation required. They can go up from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 lakh.
| PC security—PC-based fingerprint scanner with
PC log-on software which uses fingerprints instead of a password to ensure
that no one else uses your PC.
Fingerprint car immobiliser—There is no need
to carry a key; you can start your car with your finger.
Banking security—Some banks are installing
fingerprint-based lockers and access control systems.
Other fingerprint-based applications—Visitor
management system, membership management system, canteen management system.
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Because of problems or frauds with card-based and password-based systems, fingerprint-based
technology is gaining popularity. According to Manmohan Kumar, Marketing Manager
at BioEnable, “Enterprises are becoming aware of this technology and starting
to consider its use.”
Although apprehensions persist, people are ready to try out fingerprint scanners
provided someone approaches them with an appropriate and convincing solution
in accordance with their needs.
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Organisation
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Solution deployed
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| Idea Cellular |
Time attendance |
| India Today Group |
Time attendance |
| L&T Baroda |
Physical access control and time attendance |
| ONGC Mumbai |
Visitor management system |
| Seychelles Marketing Board |
Access control and club management system |
| Sultan Qaboos University |
Time attendance, access control and canteen management system |
“Ultimately, everyone is looking for a foolproof system
beyond passwords and cards,” says Kumar.
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Everyone is looking
for a foolproof system beyond passwords
and cards
Manmohan Kumar
Marketing Manager
BioEnable Technologies
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Irrespective of the size of an enterprise, a time attendance
system and a foolproof security solution are base requirements of almost any
organisation. BioEnable is also targeting clubs (fingerprint-based membership
system) and police departments that can store digital fingerprints in a database.
Comments Alok Shende of Frost & Sullivan, “Globally,
biometrics is a huge market with many players. But the trend of deploying fingerprint
solutions is just starting to pick up in the Indian market.”
With corporates taking the biometrics route, the government isn’t far behind.
It is using fingerprint scanners for applications such as criminal tracking,
land records, time attendance, access control, hostel management and resource
tracking. DRDO and other defence organisations are in the process of adopting
fingerprint-based security solutions. Even religious establishments such as
the Tirupati Balaji Temple are using BioEnable scanners to control access by
the thousands of pilgrims who visit the temple every day.
Fingerprint solutions are currently the ‘in’ thing, but soon they
will become a practical tool. “The biometrics market in India is growing
at a rate of 300-400 percent, and it will grow bigger as the technology is used
to authenticate users of more applications,” Kumar concludes.
vertika@expresscomputeronline.com
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