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The Siemens Biometrics Center develops authentication
methods based on biometric processes, which have given
rise to products and solutions ensuring unambiguous user
identification and reliable access protection for
valuable assets. Consulting and integration services
round out this portfolio.
Information and communication technology is part of our
lives – both our private and professional lives. It
makes a lot of things easier, speeds up processes, opens
up new opportunities.
But is also comes with an enormous security risk. The
goods news: there’s effective protection available.
Protection when it comes to identifying people who are
authorized to perform transactions, protection against
fraudulent manipulation of whatever kind. The most
effective means of protection are biometric methods,
such as fingerprint-based identification.
But protection is just one side of the coin. Biometric
methods also help to cut costs: after all, helpdesk
agents spend 50% of their time dealing with
password-related problems.
The Siemens Biometrics Center has been focusing its work
on authentication methods based on biometric processes.
These methods – basically fingerprint-based ones – are
being used both in the private and public sectors, for
logical as well as physical access protection. Siemens
has specialized in specific fields of industry:
- Healthcare
- Public Sector
- Travel & Transport
- Financial Sector
- Gaming & Leisure
The solutions and products being offered include
- ID Center XS
- Homeland Security Suite
- Smart Matcher
- Embedded Biometrics
Healthcare
In the healthcare sector, biometric methods are used to
ensure unambiguous authentication of those persons who
are allowed to access patient data and drugs. This helps
to speed up workflows, provides the best possible
protection for sensitive patient data, and ensures
transparency for hospital operators.
Example: Susquehanna Health System, USA
Public Sector
The fear of terrorism is a driving force in the
introduction of biometric methods, especially where
passports are concerned. More and more countries go for
identity documents with biometric personal
characteristics stored on chip to ensure unambiguous
identification.
Examples ID Card, Spain; passport, Switzerland
Travel & Transport
Airlines are particularly sensitive when it comes to
security controls. Biometric methods accelerate
passenger check-in processes, provide more security, and
can help reduce cost.
Example: Lufthansa
Financial Sector
In the financial sector, biometric methods are used to
unmistakably identify trading partners who often move
enormous amounts of money and goods via the Internet, or
to provide physical access protection in sensitive zones
(counter, cash-desk area).
Example: Verbandssparkasse Wesel
Gaming & Leisure
Amusement parks, sports venues, halls and stadiums –
wherever it is necessary to channel large crowds in an
orderly fashion within a short time, there is a great
demand for both security and efficiency. Biometrics from
Siemens can provide both.
Example: Universal Studios, USA
Customer benefit:
Biometric methods such as fingerprint-based
authentication add a new dimension of quality to
security solutions: unambiguousness, transparency, cost
reduction, and user comfort and convenience.
- A fingerprint is unmistakable. This makes for more
transparency – activities can be attributed exactly to
individuals.
- A fingerprint replaces passwords – which eases the
workload of helpdesk staff.
- Passports can be counterfeited. A fingerprint is an
unambiguous link between a document and its owner.
- Portfolio
- ID Center
- Fingerprint solutions from Biometrics Center are
proprietary Siemens products in top-of-class quality.
- The Biometrics Center specialists offer comprehensive
services.
- Consulting: Which solution is best suited for which
requirements? Given their experience, the Siemens
specialists can make well-informed recommendations. They
can also make sure that the applications are being used
in the right way in practice and thus deliver the
expected results.
- Integration: The Biometrics experts integrate biometric
methods into existing applications, making sure that all
components interact smoothly.
- Customizing: Not every solution will automatically be a
100% fit for every user. Adaptations are made in
collaboration with the customer, so optimal benefit is
guaranteed.
Smart Matcher
Smart Matcher is a high-security solution. It provides
add-on functionality for smart cards. Once personalized
onto a card, a fingerprint will always remain there. As
matching is done on the chip, the smart card remains
unambiguously linked to a specific person. No more need
for PINs – card holders authenticate with their
fingerprints.
Examples: Biometrics with public key infrastructure, ID
documents with fingerprint
Embedded Biometrics
Biometric methods are used for entrance doors, safes or
vaults, but also luxury-range cars to ensure maximum
security or – in the case of cars – maximum comfort and
uniqueness. The car owner’s fingerprint is all it takes
to make the seat as well as the side-view mirrors
automatically assume the right position, while the air
condition adjusts to the preferred temperature.
With Embedded Biometrics, Siemens offers product
manufacturers a complete biometric identification system
in the form of a black box, enabling them to easily add
biometric functions to their devices and systems.
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