Unisys: Biometrics Set To Boom In 2010

Slashed budgets and reduced staffing numbers delayed many security initiatives in 2009, but the vulnerabilities didn’t retreat and will only intensify in 2010, Unisys security experts predict.

Looking ahead to 2010, Unisys predicts that government and commercial organizations will take a more proactive approach to security, implementing new measures to verify identity and protect confidential information. Financial institutions and defense agencies will lead the charge, with ports and other organizations quickly following.

“Given the potential harm that can result from new and more dangerous forms of attacks, both physical and virtual, organizations can no longer afford to wait until they are attacked to defend themselves,” said Sid Pearl, global director of Risk Intelligence Solutions Management with Unisys. “They will begin to more closely monitor behaviors and identities in an effort to predict and prevent attacks before they happen.”

Unisys believes the following seven security trends will emerge in 2010 as business and government agencies look to protect data and strengthen identification methods:

1. The consumerization challenge -- Consumerization of IT will continue to blur the perimeters of the enterprise network. As a result, Unisys experts predict organizations’ focus will shift to data protection as opposed to traditional network security or infrastructure security. As more employees and consumers use smartphones and PDAs to conduct business transactions online, organizations will look for new ways to protect data beyond simple PINs and passwords. As consumer devices are increasingly targeted by malware and spyware, users will demand that security platforms and anti-fraud applications need to be strengthened and continually updated to ensure the protection of mobile online transactions.

2. A good offense -- Trojan attacks will continue to plague financial institutions and government agencies. Therefore, these organizations will need to take an offensive stance to better guard their data against increasingly sophisticated and harmful threats. Unisys experts predict that banks and government agencies will adopt a more comprehensive, integrated view of their IT environments and will seek to better understand the human element behind illegal activities to help them pinpoint in advance when and where and how attacks are likely to happen.

3. Proactive ports -- Port security officials will take a more predictive, proactive approach to preventing threats at key ports of entry. Rather than focusing on mere compliance with security standards, Unisys security experts predict that ports will actively begin assessing risks, simulating response efforts and creating more robust disaster recovery plans in the coming year. In addition, Unisys predicts an increase in U.S. land-based port cargo activity as Asian shipping lanes divert shipments from the congested sea ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, Calif., to Canadian and Mexican ports. Pressure will increase to rapidly scan cargo shipments as they cross land borders into the U.S.

4. Cloudy forecast -- Organizations will also begin to reverse the tendency of “protecting everything” and instead prioritize security controls based on whether the data in question presents low, moderate or high levels of risk. Consequently, more organizations will begin moving less sensitive public data into cloud computing environments to attain cost savings in 2010, and will then migrate more sensitive data to the cloud as new security models are developed to address multi-tier data protection.

5. Biometrics on the border -- The coming year will see a tipping point in use of biometric identification tools such as iris, facial or fingerprint scans, to verify identity at the border and customs areas in airports. Unisys experts point out that many governments have invested in an electronic passport infrastructure, but not yet used it. Unisys expects increased rollout of electronic passports which contain a chip to store biometric data that can be matched to its owner to verify that the person carrying the passport is the owner of the passport. Unisys predicts that the rollout electronic passports will be led by countries in the Asia-Pacific region and Europe. The Unisys Security Index recently found a majority of people globally would accept biometric authentication to verify their identities.

6. Taking IT to the streets -- Mobile biometric devices will allow governments to take more biometric-based critical services directly to their citizens, rather than requiring their citizens to come to the technology. Police forces in the U.S. and U.K. have already started using mobile fingerprint scanners to facilitate faster processing. In Australia, police officers can use the device to access the national fingerprint database from the field to scan the criminal database for a match. Such devices will also aid in the identification of individuals in a disaster situation.

7. Smart surveillance -- Surveillance systems will be become more sophisticated and intelligent. Unisys experts say that real time event detection technology will soon be able to identify a security breach as it occurs and initiate an action instead of simply recording footage to be reviewed after the incident. Improved digital camera technology coupled with intelligent software enables surveillance footage to be combined with other available information, such as facial recognition data, to create alerts so that immediate appropriate action can be taken. Surveillance software will also soon be able to recognize recurring patterns, or individuals to detect when an unusual event is occurring in real-time.


 

Featured

  • Meeting Modern Demands

    Door hardware and access control continue to be at the forefront of innovation within the security industry, continuously evolving to meet the dynamic needs of commercial spaces. Read Now

  • Leveraging IoT and Open Platform VMS for a Connected Future

    The evolution of urban environments is being reshaped by the convergence of Internet of Things (IoT) technology and open platform VMS. As cities worldwide grapple with growing populations and increasing operational complexities, these integrated technologies are emerging as powerful tools for creating more livable, efficient, and secure urban spaces. Read Now

  • Securing the Future

    Two security experts sit down with Security Today’s editor in chief Ralph C. Jensen to discuss what they see emerging and changing over the next several years along with how security stakeholders can harness these innovations into opportunities. Read Now

  • Collaboration Made Easy Using a Work Management Platform

    Effective collaboration between security operators, teams and other departments is critical to the smooth functioning of organizations. Yet, as organizations grow in complexity, it becomes more difficult for teams to coordinate with each other. This is compounded by staffing shortages, turnover and ineffective collaboration tools. Read Now

  • Creating a Safer World

    Managing and supporting locks and door hardware within a facility is a big responsibility. A building’s security needs to change over time as occupancy and use demands evolve, which can make it even more challenging. Read Now

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities

  • Compact IP Video Intercom

    Viking’s X-205 Series of intercoms provide HD IP video and two-way voice communication - all wrapped up in an attractive compact chassis.

  • HD2055 Modular Barricade

    Delta Scientific’s electric HD2055 modular shallow foundation barricade is tested to ASTM M50/P1 with negative penetration from the vehicle upon impact. With a shallow foundation of only 24 inches, the HD2055 can be installed without worrying about buried power lines and other below grade obstructions. The modular make-up of the barrier also allows you to cover wider roadways by adding additional modules to the system. The HD2055 boasts an Emergency Fast Operation of 1.5 seconds giving the guard ample time to deploy under a high threat situation.