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U.S. Department of Defense Deploys DigitalPersona's U.are.U Pro Fingerprint Authentication Solution
Oct-14-03
Department of Defense Office Begins Biometric Security Implementation To Eliminate Administration Costs and Provide 'Added Factor' Authentication
DigitalPersona(R) today announced that the Headquarters of the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) has purchased 1300 U.are.U(R) Pro fingerprint recognition systems to enhance network security at desktops within its Washington, D.C. offices. Leveraging U.are.U Pro's integration with Microsoft Active Directory, the installation provides an added layer of security for network logons using Common Access Cards (CAC). By implementing this solution, the DOD will reduce taxpayer dollars being spent on authentication administration costs by taking PINs and passwords out of the hands of end-users.
"Incorporating DigitalPersona's solution improves network authentication while reducing the expense and productivity problems related to forgotten PINs and passwords, because users no longer have to remember them," said Jim Ward, President of EyeIT.com, Inc., who participated in the design and the implementation of the system. "Now, you can use the strongest passwords allowed by the system without compromising usability or performance for the users. Costly and productivity-robbing efforts to have incorrectly entered or forgotten PINs and passwords unlocked and reset are virtually eliminated."
DigitalPersona's U.are.U Pro system was introduced to complement the Department of Defense's recently deployed CAC integration with the desktop and for the ease-of-use that the product provides. The incorporation of the DigitalPersona solution addresses two important objectives: (1) it advances the strategic objective to achieve tighter security through multi-factor credentials incorporating biometric verification and (2) it reduces the administrative and productivity burdens caused by forgotten passwords and PINs.
"Prior to the incorporation of DigitalPersona's fingerprint authentication solution, users had to use several keystrokes, type in a complex password when prompted, in order to log-on to the network. Once on the network, several more iterations of traditional password authentications were needed for subsequent application access," said Harvey Bondar, Vice-President of Worldwide Marketing for DigitalPersona. "With DigitalPersona, users can now log-on to their network and critical applications with a simple and secure touch of a finger."
A more secure and convenient authentication experience is achieved; the result of which benefits both end-users and security administrators. Users' no longer have to enter or remember their PINs or passwords. Instead, they log-on by placing a finger on a DigitalPersona U.are.U 4000 sensor, after which the system verifies them by matching their fingerprint with the fingerprint template on record. Administrators' benefit by eliminating lost or shared passwords and PINs from their list of potential security risks and by the ability to re-deploy resources previously required for password management support to more critical initiatives.
The installation of our technology at the Department of Defense caps a breakthrough six month period for DigitalPersona marked by sales to industry leaders including Cargill's Law Department, The Bankers Bank, TelMex, California Pacific Medical Centers (a division of Sutter Health) and The National Institutes of Health (NIH)," said Fabio Righi, President and CEO of DigitalPersona. "It signals the arrival of biometrics as a core authentication solution for enterprise and government networks."
About DigitalPersona
DigitalPersona is the leading provider of fingerprint recognition systems for enterprise and mainstream computing. Founded in 1996 and headquartered in Redwood City, California, DigitalPersona distributes its products through OEMs, VARs, and resellers worldwide. DigitalPersona has strategic partnerships with major computer and peripherals manufacturers including Microsoft, VeriSign, CheckPoint, Chicony, and Darfon. In addition to its flagship U.are.U product line, the company also provides user authentication solutions for vertical markets, including retail/POS, time and attendance, and access control. Further information is available at http://www.digitalpersona.com.
NOTE: U.are.U(R) and DigitalPersona(TM) are the property of DigitalPersona, Inc. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners. SOURCE DigitalPersona