Boots boosts user authentication with biometrics
Boots Group PLC, one of the largest health and beauty companies in the United Kingdom, has deployed a biometric system designed to boost user authentication security.
The company selected Bioscrypt's V-Flex finger scan reader to uniquely identify operators as they perform their tasks and provide an audit trail detailing which individual performed which job at what time.
"Using biometrics as an alternative to cards, bar codes or passwords has the additional benefit of very rapid logon and user ID in our process plant where the operator is frequently asked to authenticate their identity on each step of a complex operation. Typing their password repetitively is very time consuming," said Rob Mallett, Boots Healthcare Engineering projects manager.
"Integration with our Active Directory on site has enabled us to inherit all our group security policies from our existing networked systems, this is very advantageous in a highly regulated industry. Our Active Directory is very large, many thousands of users, and the solution developed allows verification of the fingerprint in two seconds or less!"
The Boots implementation involved Bioscrypt's finger scan technology being combined with Wonderware process control software supplied by Pantek to form an integrated solution for Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) areas that enables Boots to document the full production history of each product.
The main problem that the Boots rollout created was the integration of the fingerprint reader onto terminals that were running Intouch sessions. This was achieved by enabling connectivity via the serial connection on the thin client.
Robert Williams, President and CEO, Bioscrypt, said: "Identity verification through biometrics is applicable across industries and for many purposes. Whether for physical access control, time and attendance or network access it is critical to have the technology in place to maximize efficiency and security."
