Password in your Palm

As internal and external threats are increasing, companies are constantly
trying to deploy biometric safeguards to achieve high security. Biometrics based
security measures enable enterprises to check user authentication based on their
physical (like fingerprint) or behavioral (like manner of walking)
characteristics.

In India, biometrics has suddenly gained momentum. The country is in the
process of implementing a huge project under Unique Identification Authority of
India (UIDAI). It will provide a unique identification number to each of its 1.2
bn people. The unique number will be stored in a central database. This is
likely to be the biggest application of biometrics.

The applications of biometrics in enterprise tech environment include
identity access management and access control, which can protect the corporate
data from possible intrusion. Biometrics can control access to a building or a
computer system. Biometrics is more reliable than traditional password based
identity verification mechanism because biometrics traits are unique for a
person and unlike passwords, they cant be hacked or stolen.

Recent Trends

Today, major tech players are offering their biometrics solutions to
enterprises. For example, IBM and Fujitsu have developed a new offering that
will help companies bypass the hassles of managing multiple passwords for access
to critical business information By integrating the palm vein technology with
IBMs single sign-on software, employees can securely access applications, files
and websites with a single scan of their palm. This will eliminate the need to
remember multiple passwords.

Tech Temperature: 95 (on a scale of 1 to 100)

The solution combines Fujitsu PalmSecure LOGONDIRECTOR with IBM Tivoli Access
Manager for single sign-on, providing organizations with an authentication
solution for protecting data. It will also help them comply with HIPAA, Sarbanes
Oxley, PCI DDS and other industry and federal regulations.

India is emerging as a hot market for biometrics. While UIDAI is a recent
development, local companies have already been offering their solutions to the
users. Recently, HCL Infosystems got an order worth $23.56 mn from the Gujarat
government to supply and implement biometric attendance and computer-aided
learning systems in over 7,000 schools in the state. PCs with biometric finger
print scanner will be provided to these schools.

Market Directions

According to International Biometric Group, the global biometrics market
will grow from $1.5 bn in 2005 to $5.7 bn in 2010. Among the regional markets,
EMEA is showing enormous potential. An analysis from Frost & Sullivan reveals
that EMEA biometrics market is expected to go from euro 216.1 mn in 2008 to euro
1,058.0 mn by 2015, growing at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 25.5%
from 2008 to 2015. Technologies covered include: non-AFIS, face recognition,
iris recognition, hand geometry as well as voice and signature verification.

The Frost & Sullivan research also reveals that the convergence of security
for physical and logical access control through the use of smart cards with
embedded fingerprint biometric technology is a major market driver. It is
projected to become the standard in many organizations.

Acuity Market Intelligence says in its research report The Future of
Biometrics that the market for biometric surveillance is expected to grow at a
good CAGR of 60.99% from 2009 through 2017. Surveillance, it says, is projected
to post the strongest market share gain of all biometric applications from less
than 1% to nearly 8% of the total market value representing a growth from $19 mn
to $872 mn in the annual revenue.

Biometric systems are coming on the core tech infrastructure list of most
companies. And, it is going to stay that way.

Rakesh Raman

maildqindia@cybermedia.co.in