With the increase in the number of security breaches and transaction frauds, the need for a highly secure identification and personal verification technologies is becoming apparent. In this scenario, biometric technologies stands out to be the best option that can prevent or minimize security threats effectively with a wide range of products available in the market.

Biometrics are automated methods of recognizing a person based on a physiological or behavioral characteristic: Physiological biometrics are based on measurements and data retrieved from direct measurement of a part of the human body. Fingerprint, iris-scan, retina-scan, hand geometry, and facial recognition are leading physiological biometrics.

Behavioral biometrics are based on measurements and data derived from an action, and indirectly measure characteristics of the human body. Voice recognition, keystroke-scan, and signature-scan are leading behavioral biometric technologies.

Using these two primary characteristics (physiological and behavioral), a biometric system essentially is a pattern verification (authentication) or identification.

BENEFITS OF USING BIOMETRICS For employers Reduced costs – password maintenance, no buddy punching  Increased security – no shared or compromised passwords, deter and detect fraudulent account access, no badge sharing in secure areas  Competitive advantage – familiarity with advanced technology  For employees Convenience – no passwords to remember or reset, faster login  Security – confidential files can be stored securely  Non-repudiation – biometrically transactions difficult to refute  For consumers: Convenience – no passwords to remember or reset  Security – personal files, including emails, can be secured, – online purchases safer when enabled by biometric  Privacy – ability to transact anonymously  For retailers (online and point-of-sale) Reduced costs – Users less likely to commit fraud  Competitive advantage – first to offer secure transaction method  Security – account access much more secure than via password  For public sector usage: Reduced costs – strongest way to detect and deter benefits fraud Increased trust – reduced entitlement abuse

APPLYING BIOMETRICS TO REAL LIFE
Biometrics is a rapidly evolving technology which is being widely used in forensics such as criminal identification and prison security and has the potential to be used in a large range of civilian application areas. Biometrics can be used to prevent unauthorized access to ATMs, cellular phones, smart cards, desktop PCs, workstations, and computer networks. It can be used during transactions conducted via telephone and the Internet (e-commerce and e-banking). In automobiles, biometrics can replace keys with key-less entry devices.

Biometrics is slowly reaching desktops in the form of very small and well-integrated scanners and sensors. Facial-scan technology works through standard peripheral cameras already shipping with PCs, voice-scan works through standard PC microphones, and finger-scan utilizes postage-stamp sized scanners integrated into keyboards, laptops, mice and PCMCIA cards. Major manufacturers such as Dell, Compaq, Toshiba and IBM have started to ship biometrics as part of their systems.

While, the biometric technology is still unfamiliar to most, it is slowing becoming more visible everyday worldwide. According to industry sources, by 2005-end, there will be one or more biometric technologies shipped as a part of every new PC system.

In India, the market for biometric products is expected to be fairly large. Most biometric devices currently available in the Indian market uses fingerprint as the authentication medium and is usually centered around laptop and PC users. 

It is usually available as an built-in device on mice, keyboards, laptops, servers, or as stand-alone fingerprint identifiers. Apart from IT, some of the other extensive use of biometrics in India is seen in devices recording time and attendance, and on secured doors and locks for securing an entry or exit.

The market potential for biometrics in India is broadly classified as areas requiring physical security and areas requiring logical security. Physical security involves the person's entry in to some sensitive areas and hence the products would mainly comprise door authentication, or airport security, etc. Logical security will be limited to individual users with individual products like logging in to a laptop using a fingerprint authenticator.

Industry experts believe that the initial growth is expected to come from the physical security space for the next few years.

However, business potential from logical security cannot be ruled out after few years.

The huge array of products available in the world market leaves no doubt about the maturity of biometrics. In India too, the market is gaining acceptance. At least 20 companies in the country trade in biometric-based security products. Of these, some claim to have manufacturing capabilities. Surprisingly, some of them even export biometric devices to the US and other western countries. Industry sources feel that in a couple of years even the Indian market will be matured enough to compete with the world biometric market.

Local vendors feel that products like safe deposit vaults with biometric authentication will be the next generation of biometric products in the country. All these products will surely gain popularity once awareness among masses increase. And the reason is purely 'convenience'. Unlike, the various other authentication and verification mechanisms like passwords; fingerprint authentication is the easiest to use with high level of security.

DISCIPLINES IN BIOMETRIC TECHNOLOGY

· Fingerprint (optical, silicon, ultrasound, touch less)  · Facial recognition (optical and thermal)  · Voice recognition (not to be confused with speech recognition)  Iris-scan  Retina-scan  Hand geometry  Signature-scan  Keystroke-scan  Palm-scan (forensic use only) Disciplines with reduced commercial viability or in exploratory stages DNA  Ear shape  Odor (human scent)  Vein-scan (in back of hand or beneath palm)  Finger geometry (shape and structure of finger or fingers)  Nailbed identification (ridges in fingernails)  Gait recognition (manner of walking)

However, for these products to become viable for masses, the skepticism regarding biometric technology -- does it work? Is it worth deploying? and will it crash my network? -- needs to be answered. The answer probably lies in the fact that it is successfully being deployed the world over and is still growing. Unless there is a general consensus on the acceptability and the price, biometrics will be slow on large-scale adoption.

WORLDWIDE OUTLOOK
Biometric technology-based products are not completely free of loopholes and flaws, but they surely have reached a stage where its usability can be spanned over a wide range of products. Both, systems integrator and end-user, have a wider choice of biometric components that can be easily integrate into various systems. The individual unit cost is still relatively high for biometric products, but this too is changing and several manufacturers are introducing lower cost modules to the market place.

Various biometric consortium the world over now consider this market to have reached a stage of maturity. According to the Biometric Consortium, the most biometric-based products is set to grow substantially through 2007. The following is the market-size break-up based on leading biometric technologies.

Fingerprint: Fingerprint revenues are expected to comprise approximately 30% of the entire biometric market. Fingerprint revenues are projected to grow from $144.2 million in 2002 to $1,229.8 million in 2007.

Iris-Scan: Iris-scan revenues are expected to comprise approximately 5% of the entire biometric market. Iris-scan revenues are projected to grow from $16.2 million in 2002 to $210.2 million in 2007. 

Facial Recognition: Facial recognition revenues are projected to grow from $34.4 million in 2002 to $429.1 million in 2007 and are expected to comprise approximately 10% of the entire biometric market.

Voice Recognition: Voice recognition revenues are projected to grow from $12.2 million in 2002 to $142.1 million in 2007.

Revenues are expected to comprise approximately 4% of the entire biometric market.

Another area where vendors see a bright future is in biometric integrated with smartcard. The use of smartcards along with biometrics, will help both securely store user data and provide a means for identity verification. The growth popularity of smartcard can be leveraged to promote biometric with such products.

 NELSON JOHNY

Page(s)   1