Re: Biometric Alternatives

[Jimi Thompson <jimit () myrealbox com>]

At 4:01 PM -0600 6/4/03, Mears,Caleb M wrote:
> Hello All,
>
> I am currently evaluating different biometric alternatives to our 
> current logon system. I have narrowed my search to fingerprint based 
> systems because as most of our "customers" are students, ease of use 
> is a must and iris or voice based systems do not seem practical. 
> Keyboards with built-in scanners are preferred because most of the 
> devices I have found are small external devices that I imagine will 
> grow legs and walk out the door unless there is a locking mechanism 
> included with the device. I am looking for something that will work 
> in conjunction with our current Windows XP workstations and Windows 
> 2000 server w/ Active Directory; however, we will be migrated over 
> to Windows 2003 server by the end of the summer so compatibility 
> with 2003 server is a must. The purpose of this project is to 
> provide the students with an alternative to remembering their 
> password and provide quicker logon times. Any good/bad experiences 
> with vendors are appreciated.
>
> Caleb


Caleb,

Honestly, many of the fingerprint and palm scanners just aren't that 
good unless you are willing to spend for high end gear, which 
probably won't come built into a keyboard.  Many things can throw off 
fingerprint scanners - hand lotion, a minor burn, and small cuts.  We 
tried them and found that with at least one brand, unless you cleaned 
the glass the workstation would randomly log you in because it would 
"hit" on the print that had been left on the scanning surface.    I 
would tell you that you are probably better off setting up some sort 
of a self-service password retrieval system.

--
Thanks,

Ms. Jimi Thompson, CISSP, Rev.

"Those who are too smart to engage in politics are punished by being 
governed by those who are dumber." --Plato




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