Survival of the safest in 2009

Business vision: Unisys forecasts many opportunities for resellers looking to move into biometrics

With security fears growing amid the economic crisis, the ubiquitous spectre of terrorism and the increasing sophistication of internet threats, channel onlookers are predicting that this year’s successful businesses will be the safest ones.

The latest Security Index report from systems integrator Unisys found that financial security overtook personal security in the six months to September as UK residents’ top concern.

With an index of 140, this marks an increase of 12 per cent on the March 2008 figure while the personal security index remains the same at 133.

The survey measured security concerns across four areas: national, financial, personal and internet. The level of concern is ranked out of 300 and the UK’s index is 127, less than the average of 130. However, this score was still markedly higher than in Europe, including the Netherlands, which has an index of 87.

Password protection
It also shows that UK citizens are far more willing than many in mainland Europe to embrace a variety of different identification technologies. More than four-fifths of UK residents are happy to use a personal password when dealing with banks, government agencies or other organisations.

Seventy-eight per cent have no objections to using a PIN number, while 74 per cent are willing to supply photographic identification. Three-quarters have no qualms about fingerprint or iris scanning.

The UK results surrounding biometrics are in stark contrast to those for France, Italy and Spain where less than half of residents say they are willing to embrace iris scanning.

Neil Fisher, vice president of global security solutions for Unisys, said: “The public are getting used to the idea of some form of biometrics. It is partly to do with the financial crisis and the fear that crime might go up.”

Many UK consumers are also happy to use less orthodox biometric technologies, with 67 per cent willing to be identified by face scan.

Sixty-one per cent would happily use a voice recording and 56 per cent would not object to a scan of the hand’s blood vessels as a means of identification.

“All these technologies are trying to increase safety and security, they are not there [as an] inconvenience,” said Fisher.

He earmarked several lucrative opportunities for security resellers wanting to get involved with biometric technologies.

“It will take time to come to maturity, but the technology is being worked into banks,” he said. “The 2012 Olympics will also undoubtedly use some sort of
biometrics and resellers can spin off assorted services.”

Niche area
Peter Ward, general manager of peripherals vendor Electrone Europe, claimed biometrics could become a niche for the security channel. But he warned that banks were not yet ready.

“Overcoming inertia is the biggest obstacle,” he said. “The banking industry, which is probably the industry that uses identity more than any other, is entrenched in using cards.”

Ward questioned the stability of voice technology, but claimed fingerprint and iris scanning had differing merits.

“Fingerprinting technology is very easily personalised and the reader is a low-cost device,” he said. “There is a significant set-up cost for iris scanning, but it is quick and straightforward to use.”

The UK biometrics industry was given a shot in the arm in October when the police announced that all forces across the country would be equipped with handheld
fingerprinting devices.

Pierre Lams, founder of mobility VAR Handheld PCs, said: “We have worked with the police before to help it take advantage of mobile technology. Fingerprinting on mobile devices signifies its desire to embrace these technologies.”

Insecurities abound
Unisys’ UK national security index rose from 107 to 124 while internet security increased from 105 to 111. Neil Fisher claimed the economic climate is also fuelling concerns.

“There is a general air of caution; people are feeling nervous and more insecure,” he said. “If people have credit, they feel they have to protect it.”

UK residents’ largest financial security concern is the safety of card details. Sixty-three per cent declare themselves to be extremely or very concerned, while only 13 per cent claim they are worry free.

Fisher claimed consumers are starting to see businesses’ security measures as reassuring rather than invasive. “There will be a change of attitude towards security so that it is seen as a driver of business,” he said.

“Organisations that are seen as secure will be seen as strong."

Jamie Andrews, UK partner manager of content security vendor Ironport, claimed security was one area on which companies would not skimp, regardless of shrinking IT budgets. “Organisations have to have security for email and web.”

“It is the one area for which firms cannot reduce budget as email is a mission-critical application. With the evolving market and all the new threats on the landscape, we are seeing a huge take-up of web reputation services.”