About Biometrics

What is biometric technology?
Biometrics (ancient Greek: bios ="life", metron ="measure") is the study of methods for uniquely recognizing humans based upon one or more intrinsic physical or behavioral traits. In information technology, biometric authentication refers to technologies that measure and analyze human physical and behavioural characteristics for authentication purposes. Examples of physical (or physiological or biometrc) characteristics include fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, facial patterns and hand measurements, while examples of mostly behavioural characteristics include signature, gait and typing patterns.

What is biometric authentication?
Biometric authentication is the automatic recognition of a human being or individual based on his or her unique biometric characteristic. The technology is extensively used for the purpose of conditional access, desktop/network login and surveillance activities.

What are the standards and terms used to measure the effectiveness of a biometric authentication system?

• False Acceptance Rate (FAR) The FAR is the frequency that a non-authorized person is accepted as authorized.  Because a false acceptance can often lead to damages, FAR is generally a security relevant measure.

• False Rejection Rate (FRR) The FRR is the frequency that an authorized person is rejected or denied access.  FRR is generally thought of as a comfort criteria, because a false rejection is most of all annoying.

• Failure To Enroll rate (FTE, also FER) The FER is the proportion of people who fail to be enrolled successfully. Those who are enrolled yet but are mistakenly rejected after many verification/identification attempts count for the Failure To Acquire (FTA) rate.

Is biometric authentication more secure than password based authentication?
It is a matter of fact that the security of password-protected values in particular depends on the user. If the user has to memorize too many passwords, he will use the same passwords for as many applications as possible. If this is not possible, he will go to construct very simple passwords. If this will also fail (e.g., if the construction rules are too complex), the next fall-back stage is to notify the password on paper. In this case, and that seems to be the normal case, it can be said that biometrics has considerable advantages.

Contrariwise, passwords feature unbeatable theoretic protection ability: an eight-digit password, which is allowed to contain any symbol from an 8-bit alphabet, offers 10 20 possible combinations! This is a real challenge for any biometric feature.  The requirements are obvious: such a password is maximally difficult to learn, it must not be written down, it must not be passed to anyone, the input must take place absolutely secret, it must not be extorted, and the technical implementations must be perfect. However, it can be assumed that the protection of biometric feature acquisition is not easier than the acquisition of the password, provided the implementation expense is comparable.

Which areas make use of the biometric technology?

What are the Benefits of Biometric Technology?

• For employers
  Reduced costs - password maintenance
  Reduced costs - no buddy punching
  Increased security - no shared or compromised passwords
  Increased security - deter and detect fraudulent account access
  Increased security - no badge sharing in secure areas
  Competitive advantage - familiarity with advanced technology

• For employees
  Convenience - no passwords to remember or reset
  Convenience - 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
  Security - online purchases safer when enabled by biometric
  Privacy - ability to transact anonymously

• For retailers (online and point-of-sale)
  Reduced costs - biometric 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

About Tutis Technologies (Biometric Division)

What is Tutis?
Tutis (Ancient Latin: Secure) is a pioneer in the field of Biometric software solutions in India for access control and time attendance. Tutis aims at introducing not just the technological innovation and prowess but a range of products to customize & redefine workspaces through the best office automation and security solutions. It has a range of biometric products and software solutions with a wide spectrum of functionality, interoperability and scope for customization.

When was Tutis Biometric established?
The Biometric division of Tutis was established in 1999 and now has over eight years of experience in the field of biometric technology.

What products does Tutis have in its portfolio?
Tutis has a range of software and hardware products for fingerprint and smart card based Time Attendance and Access Control systems. Tutis is also the authorized VAR for leading global biometric players like Cross Match Technologies, Startek and SecuGen for their products and scanning devices like SecuGen Hamster III. Tutis has also developed its own biometric authentication software for desktops and servers – Tutis Biometric Logon.

Where is Tutis Located?
Tutis technologies, headquartered in Mumbai, has offices in London and Dubai along with an efficient countrywide network of resellers and dealers.