Saflink SureAccess Reader can improve security at seaports, airports and other critical facilities
01 March, 2006
category: Biometrics, Corporate, Government
An all-weather biometric smart card reader from Washington-based Saflink Corp. can harden security for both seaports and airports. It’s the first Saflink reader designed to meet NIST/FIPS 201 requirements and can be integrated with many existing physical access control systems.
BELLEVUE, Wash.– Saflink Corporation, a leading provider of solutions that verify identity, secure access and increase productivity, has announced Saflink SureAccess, an all-weather, smart card, biometric reader that reduces the threat of unauthorized access to critical facilities. With dynamic threat protection, the reader allows Saflink customers to immediately strengthen access assurance requirements with multifactor authentication in response to changing threat levels.
The Saflink SureAccess reader is the first in a family of products designed to meet the strict requirements of the National Institute of Standards and Technologies’ (NIST) Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201, also known as Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of federal employees and contractors. Designed for interoperability and remote administration, the SureAccess solution easily integrates with many existing physical access control systems and supports the technical specifications of the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.
SureAccess is based on the same Saflink contactless smart card and biometric reader technology previously deployed by the TSA as part of TWIC Phase III. Rated IP65 for dust and moisture resistance, the system is ideal for outdoor deployments in extreme conditions. SureAccess allows seaports, airports and other critical facilities to deploy a standardized credential that enables workers to use the same smart card to gain entry at multiple sites. The product, also being utilized by the State of Florida in a deepwater seaport security initiative, is designed for broad deployment in public settings for both indoor and outdoor use.
“Ensuring that only authorized individuals gain access to critical infrastructure, such as ports, is vital to Homeland Security,” said Kate McCurdy, Public Sector Technology Analyst, Datamonitor. “Reliable, biometrically enabled, weather-resistant access card readers are an important component of an effective access control system.”
“Our SureAccess reader is a proven solution,” said Glenn Argenbright, CEO of Saflink. “The technology has been implemented in TWIC Phase III and the State of Florida deep water port programs. In these deployments, we learned the importance of manufacturing an all-weather biometric device capable of operation in extreme port conditions as well as the need for flexible integration with existing physical access systems to minimize infrastructure cost upgrades.”
The SureAccess reader is designed to meet federal government standards for PIV compliance where standard photo ID cards are replaced with tamper resistant, biometrically enabled smart cards to create a secure credential. To gain access to a site, a worker simply places the card near the reader and touches a sensor to scan and encode his or her fingerprint as a value. In seconds, the reader verifies the worker’s identity and a central system authenticates the request, opening the security gate. Biometric credentials virtually eliminate the threat of tampering with an employee’s identity, while allowing workers to carry a single credential instead of multiple ID cards.
SureAccess products are showcased in the Saflink FIPS 201 evaluation lab in Reston, Virginia. For more information about SureAccess, please contact Saflink at 877-241-4717.
About Saflink
Saflink Corporation offers biometric security and smart card solutions that protect intellectual property, secure information assets and eliminate passwords. Saflink Identity Assurance Management solutions allow administrators to verify identity and control access to computer networks, physical facilities and applications. Winner of six awards in 2005, Saflink and its solutions have been recognized by organizations such as Frost & Sullivan and Software Magazine’s Software 500. For more information, please visit www.saflink.com or call 800-762-9595.
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