Access Control


Study: Silicon Fingerprint Sensor Market Set To Thrive

With almost every major PC manufacturer integrating silicon chip fingerprint sensors in their products, the market appears set to thrive.

Biometrics Help Increase Security For Storage Facility

Security is always a selling point for the self-storage industry and customers who take advantage of having an extra place to store everything under the sun.

Dispelling the Myths

DISPELLING myths and misunderstandings about biometrics and its increasingly common use in everyday professional and personal lives is a tough task, even in these modern, technologically-advanced times.



Clamoring For Registered Traveler

From the Product Manager's POV

HIRSCH Electronics is no stranger to introducing new products or winning accolades among its peers. From the competition at ISC West, Hirsch won a special achievement award in the Security Industry Association's New Product Showcase in Las Vegas. We thought readers should know more about the RUU-201 Verification Station, so we talked to Scott Howell of Hirsch Electronics.

A Fast Read

IN some cases, companies implementing biometrics will initially encounter employee resistance, with the issues of privacy and hygiene taking center stage. This will invariably be the case if a union is involved and is looking for negotiating points.

Who Are You?

IDENTITY theft has changed the public's perspective on financial security. Phising scams take consumers to Web sites almost identical to their trusted bank, a stolen driver license can lead to forged checks, a stolen Social Security number can open numerous credit card accounts and card cloning has left the public vulnerable.

Biometrics To Go

CONTRARY to using badges, sign-ins or other ways of tracking employees, a biometric reader ensures no employee can punch in for another, eliminating time fraud and reducing payroll costs. Because every person's biometric features—hand, fingerprint, eye or face—are unique, a biometric time clock provides a quick, accurate and reliable way to record in and out punches for each employee. That’s why so many companies, including fast food restaurants, now employ biometrics.

Raising the Bar

Raising the bar is a phrase commonly associated with pole vaulting or high jumping. At the Utah Summer Games, officials also are raising the bar on efficiency and security with a speedier, more stringent ID card program for athletes.

A Knack for Access

NETWORK access control is one of the hottest topics in IT today. Despite this, available approaches are either fragmented or not ready for widespread implementation. In order to understand this phenomenon, users must evaluate current approaches and understand the process of implementing a NAC solution. When implementing network access control, the first set of decisions that need to be made regarding network policy. The first necessary question for a NAC project is: Why does it need to be implemented and what is expected from implementation?

Getting Carded

IN recent years, investigative reporters have uncovered security vulnerabilities in what are believed to be closely monitored applications: school buildings. In too many instances, investigators are able to slip into school buildings without being stopped, and administrators find out about the security breach on the evening news.

The Last Word

IT'S a simple enough request at most companies -- the last person to leave the office should lock the doors. But many times, one of the most basic tenants of access control can be compromised by something as simple as a forgetful employee.

Homeland Security Insider

FOUR years in the making, the drive to implement HSPD-12 at long last began by issuing smart identification cards last October. Every federal agency has now opened at least one facility where employees can go to get personal identification verification (PIV) cards fitted to the strict criteria of FIPS 201. This year, federal agencies will begin to activate a massive interoperable system of card readers in which any agency's readers will be able to read and process cards presented by any and all federal employees -- no matter what agency employs them.

A New Deal

RECENTLY, security dealers and integrators in the access control industry have seen a great shake-up. Widespread demand and overall adoption of IP-compatible devices has, in many cases, introduced security dealers to the IT world for the first time.

Fusion Frenzy

U.S. airports with one or more checkpoint areas, security officials have probably never thought of themselves as ID managers.

Questions and Answers From the Top

BANKS and larger financial institutions are interested in making the most of the newest security technologies and analytical software solutions to better protect assets, employees and customers.

Check Mate

IN the last 10 years, the background screening industry has grown tremendously and has moved from being a process used for security clearance, law enforcement and high-level, sensitive government jobs to an integral part of the hiring process of the vast majority of firms in the United States. Beth Miller of DataCheck Inc., located in San Clemente, Calif., said it best, as "more and more companies are conducting background screenings, it is becoming an everyday process and part of the norm."

Product Spotlight

HONEYWELL has more than 30 years of experience in offering security professionals innovative products and solutions, and company experts have years of service in addressing complex access control situations. In a recent interview with Security Products, Beth Thomas, product manager for Honeywell readers and credentials, discussed the impact ID management and biometric technology has on HSPD-12 and FIPS 201.

Child's Play

"DON'T you love it when a plan comes together?" said Sean Mullin, president of BI2 Technologies and founder of The CHILD Project<sup>TM</sup>, a secure, nationwide network and registry that enables law enforcement and social service agencies to positively identify missing children and adults using iris recognition biometric technology.

Face the Future

BIOMETRIC authentication has come a long way from its humble beginnings in 14th century China where merchants would stamp children's hand and footprints on paper to distinguish them. After seven centuries, though, unique physiological and behavioral characteristics are still used as means of identification.

Industry Insight

GIVEN the current geopolitical climate, driving security initiatives forward is high on the agenda for both government and enterprise. Interest in the increased security and authentication capabilities afforded by smart cards has accelerated worldwide.

The Total Package

ELECTRONIC security products and systems play an ever-increasing role in managing access and egress in today's buildings.

Glance of the Eye

While biometrics was a concept not yet invented in Emerson's day, the quote still applies perfectly to the technique at the heart of Panasonic's BM-ET330 iris recognition system.

Right On Track

SEPTEMBER 2006 marked the fifth anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the World Trade Center, sparking widespread debate on whether the United States is any safer today than it was on that fateful day in 2001. Since 9/11, much has been done to promote greater vigilance of both foreign and homegrown terrorist activities. But until another successful or unsuccessful terrorist attack, the nation may never know the complete answer.

Flying High

NOWADAYS, it takes much more to have a safe flight, and airports are strengthening security to ensure passengers do travel safely.

Making the Grade

TO create a safe school environment that allows teachers and students to focus on learning, the Palm Beach County, Fla., School District created the Safe Schools Institute (SSI).

Break a Leg

LOCATED about as far as a typical Tiger Woods half-wedge shot from the San Antonio Spurs practice facility, the Texas Center for Athletes could soon be the premier medical facility in South Texas.

The Magic Touch

THE fluctuating state of global migration, combined with international terrorism threats, make ID verification increasingly important at border crossings. According to Customs and Border Protection, in 2005, the United States had an average of 1.2 million visitors per day at the 314 land, air and seaports last year.

The Last Word

THANKS to being almost 1,000 miles away from any land mass, the Galapagos Islands on the Pacific Ocean are famous for the unique and self-supporting habitat that contains thousands of species of plants and animals native to the area.

Featured

  • Gaining a Competitive Edge

    Ask most companies about their future technology plans and the answers will most likely include AI. Then ask how they plan to deploy it, and that is where the responses may start to vary. Every company has unique surveillance requirements that are based on market focus, scale, scope, risk tolerance, geographic area and, of course, budget. Those factors all play a role in deciding how to configure a surveillance system, and how to effectively implement technologies like AI. Read Now

  • 6 Ways Security Awareness Training Empowers Human Risk Management

    Organizations are realizing that their greatest vulnerability often comes from within – their own people. Human error remains a significant factor in cybersecurity breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address human risk effectively. As a result, security awareness training (SAT) has emerged as a cornerstone in this endeavor because it offers a multifaceted approach to managing human risk. Read Now

  • The Stage is Set

    The security industry spans the entire globe, with manufacturers, developers and suppliers on every continent (well, almost—sorry, Antarctica). That means when regulations pop up in one area, they often have a ripple effect that impacts the entire supply chain. Recent data privacy regulations like GDPR in Europe and CPRA in California made waves when they first went into effect, forcing businesses to change the way they approach data collection and storage to continue operating in those markets. Even highly specific regulations like the U.S.’s National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) can have international reverberations – and this growing volume of legislation has continued to affect global supply chains in a variety of different ways. Read Now

  • Access Control Technology

    As we move swiftly toward the end of 2024, the security industry is looking at the trends in play, what might be on the horizon, and how they will impact business opportunities and projections. Read Now

Webinars

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 3

  • Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden CM-221 Series Switches

    Camden Door Controls is pleased to announce that, in response to soaring customer demand, it has expanded its range of ValueWave™ no-touch switches to include a narrow (slimline) version with manual override. This override button is designed to provide additional assurance that the request to exit switch will open a door, even if the no-touch sensor fails to operate. This new slimline switch also features a heavy gauge stainless steel faceplate, a red/green illuminated light ring, and is IP65 rated, making it ideal for indoor or outdoor use as part of an automatic door or access control system. ValueWave™ no-touch switches are designed for easy installation and trouble-free service in high traffic applications. In addition to this narrow version, the CM-221 & CM-222 Series switches are available in a range of other models with single and double gang heavy-gauge stainless steel faceplates and include illuminated light rings. 3

  • EasyGate SPT and SPD

    EasyGate SPT SPD

    Security solutions do not have to be ordinary, let alone unattractive. Having renewed their best-selling speed gates, Cominfo has once again demonstrated their Art of Security philosophy in practice — and confirmed their position as an industry-leading manufacturers of premium speed gates and turnstiles. 3