What Are Biometric Safes and How Do They Work?

Biometric safes are on of the most hi tech ways to protect your valuable property. They're becoming more and more popular as the technology gets better and better. Only 10 years ago, biometrics were the thing of movies and science fiction for most people, although biometric identification like retinal scanning did exist in super secure installations, like military bases or government buildings as far back as 1981. What are biometrics exactly? It's methods for uniquely recognizing people based on an intrinsic physical or behavioral trait. Examples would be recognizing people by fingerprint, voice, iris (of the eye), face recognition, etc. The strength of biometric methods to identify people is the uniqueness of individual, much like snowflakes no two people are exactly alike. Let's take a look at some of the other advantages and disadvantages of Biometric Security, and what applications biometrics have.

Advantages of Biometric Security

When using biometric methods characteristics need to be used that are unique and universal. For example, eye color is not unique, there are many people that have the same eye color. The pattern of the iris is unique to each individual. In fact it's one of the most universal traits, it has the fewest number of people that can't use it of all biometric identifiers. Because it's also something that doesn't change it's one of the identifiers that seldom needs updating. This uniqueness of humans is one of the strength of biometrics, it's basically impossible to make one persons iris pattern look like someone else's. That isn't to say that a biometric security system can't be fooled. One of the easier systems to trick is one of the most common.

Some Disadvantages of Biometric Security

Fingerprints are unique to individuals just like their iris, and it's simple to take a fingerprint - no hi tech equipment needed. In fact we all know that law enforcement has been doing it for years. However it's easy to trick a biometric fingerprint system. The television show Mythbusters fooled a fingerprint recognition security system by using a high quality scan of a fingerprint. In fact many biometric systems can't distinguish between the real living tissue and a high quality photograph. That is actually one of the biggest failings of a biometric system, the fact that they can't determine between real and a photo. Another disadvantage that has been mentioned by experts is that the danger to the biometric user is increased. There was an 2005 incident in Malaysia in which thieves cut off the finger of a Mercedes owner to use it to start his biometrically protected car.

Uses for Biometrics

So what applications would a biometric safe have? Protecting valuables is obviously one use, but consider what happens if the user is somehow incapacitated. If family need access to vital papers or belongings will they be able to access it if the owner dies or is unable to open the safe? In that case the biometric measures along with other security features make more sense. A good application for biometric measures are where the contents of a safe have to be accessed quickly. Many manufacturers of gun safes are adding biometric measures to them. A biometric gun safe can keep firearms away from children or unauthorized users yet still allow quick access.

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FAQs before selecting any Biometric devices

Now-a-days Biometric Attendance Systems has removed every other conventional methods of attendance management. Almost in every office, corporate, buildings and premises, biometric systems are installed for security purposes and attendance management. Biometric systems are growing rapidly only because they are considered more secure than conventional security systems. After all, biometrics technology uses intrinsic human characteristics such as fingerprints, facial characteristics, iris or retinas and many others; and it is more difficult to steal or duplicate a fingerprint than it is to do the same with a key or a password.

But before implementing any biometric system, we have to clarify certain query. So, here are some frequently asked questions:-

1. Can fingerprints be stolen or copied from biometric database?

Absolutely NOT. Fingerprint templates are stored in the database. Only a tiny subset of the characteristics of the fingerprint is extracted and stored in the template when the finger is scanned. The templates stored in the database hold enough information to verify the finger presented is yours when your finger is scanned in the future but the entire image of the fingerprint is not stored so there is no way to copy or steal fingerprints from the database.

2. Can Biometric Systems be fooled with replica fingerprints?

No, because fingerprints are never exactly the same due to human factors. The fingerprints will be similar enough to identify individuals when scanned but if an exact replica of a previously scanned fingerprint is scanned again, the biometric system will know it and deny access.

3. What is the enrollment capacity of biometric systems?

When authorized users are enlisted in the database, they are said to be enrolled. So depending on the system capacity, the number of enrollments can be done. It can be from 1000-25000 finger templates. And also 5 Lac transaction can be stored.

4. How quickly can a fingerprint be identified by a biometric system?

The acceptance and rejection rate of fingerprints depend on many factors. The speed of the processing power of the machine and other factor is the number of fingerprint template stored in the database. On an average identification varies from 1 Sec to 3 seconds.

5. Will wet finger affect fingerprint scanner?

Generally no, but one is advised to use dry finger fir faster acceptance. The fingerprint sensor used in the devices is basically scratching less and identifies the finger with maximum accuracy.

6. Will it work after a power failure?

Yes, definitely, because devices have battery back-up of around 48 hours. Also few devices have some lower back-up. But overall, biometric devices are the perfect choice for attendance system.

7. How long the data can be stored in the device without connectivity to the server?

Depending on the capacity of the memory. Though more than 5 lacs transactions can be stored in the single device.

8. Are these devices capable of real time data processing?

Yes, obviously, because devices feature data push technology, which sends the data as soon as it is fed with it. This real time data processing makes systems more fast, accurate and reliable.

9. What are the connectivity modes?

The Biometric devices are incorporated with advanced and recent technologies. So these devices can be connected to the server through WI-Fi, GPRS and LAN depending on the location and connectivity source.

So you can see biometric technology is quite advanced. The systems are already quite accurate and difficult to fool. And as with most emerging technologies, biometric systems are advancing at a rapid rate so get used to them. It may not be long until you have a biometric security system installed in your office.

Guard Tracking System by Star Link India

Star Link owns a credit to work on different projects resolving the most critical prevailing problems in big set-ups. Here I will discuss one of the major problem Star Link was able to cope-up easily by providing an appropriate solution and services.

Problem:-

In 2003, Maruti Udyog Ltd. (now its Maruti Suzuki) faced major issue related to the negligent behavior of Security guards in the periphery of the factory. The Guards in duty were showing irresponsible behavior during night times. They were mostly found sleeping in any corner of the compound being unaware of the problems like AC failure, Power Cuts and other unwanted movements in the premises. This was prevailing for longer times and the management were not finding any solution.

Star Link India Industrial Model

Solution:-

Star Link suggested Maruti Udyog Ltd. (now its Maruti Suzuki) to install Industrial Model of their Biometric Access Control System, which worked on fingerprint and smart card.

The Industrial Model is perfect device for industrial environments as it is robust with its metallic body making it vandal proof. Also, this device comes with built-in battery with back-up of almost 3-6 hrs. It can store 65,000 records and 25,000 fingerprints templates. This machine is synchronized with software for proper functioning and detailed records.

Process:-

Industrial Model is installed at different points in the periphery of the factory. The Guards are provided with contact less Smart ID card with fingerprint and his information. Guard has to simply register his fingerprint with his information which can be uploaded in the software (provided by Star Link). The whole process of writing this smart ID card takes fraction of seconds, after which smart card is ready to be used by the guards during their duty time.

Star Link Fingerprint System

During patrolling, the guards have to carry this card with them and show this card to the machines installed at different points. Each machine installed at different point has some unique ID and name to identify the location for easy understanding. They have to follow few steps for successful authentication, which includes verifying his fingerprints by putting his finger on the machine. Firstly the guard will show his smart card, then after message of “Put Finger” he will verify his finger print and then again have to show cards after the message “Show Card”. After successful authentication Green Light will glow, verifying the process. The same process is repeated at every machine on his patrolling track.

During this process, data is transferred repeatedly to-and-fro from machine to card and vice-verse. The data which is transferred to the card is – “Machine health” like battery status, connectivity; and the details of punching like date and time. These details are stored in his card; this reduces the necessity of wiring and connectivity to connect every machine with server. The only requirement is card that stores the data at different points.

When the day is called off, the guard has to come in security office and show card to one other machine in Control Room which marks his end of the duty. During this, his all data is transferred to the machine with a green light indicator with a long beep, indicating successful operation.

Outcome:-

Now, Guards were unable to manipulate the attendance system due to the features Industrial Model that accepts only biometric inputs like fingerprints (unique physical identity). They are bound to do their duty sincerely without any proxy in attendance.

This whole process is helping the security officials and company personals to make the weekly and monthly report on the basis of Guard's Info and machine health report. Now, Maruti Udyog Ltd. (now Maruti Suzuki) is very satisfied with the installation of this system, which helped them to find the security solution for their prevailing problems they were facing for so longer. All Credit goes to Industrial Model of Star Link Biometric Access Control.