Saflink SureAccess Reader Can Improve Security at Seaports, Airports and Other Critical Facilities
All-Weather Physical Access Reader Offers Dynamic Threat Protection in Support of FIPS 201
BELLEVUE, WA – (February 28, 2006) Saflink® Corporation (NASDAQ:SFLK), a leading provider of solutions that verify identity, secure access and increase productivity, today announced Saflink SureAccess ™, an all-weather, smart card, biometric reader that reduces the threat of unauthorized access to critical facilities. With dynamic threat protection, the reader allows Saflink customers to immediately strengthen access assurance requirements with multifactor authentication in response to changing threat levels.
The Saflink SureAccess reader is the first in a family of products designed to meet the strict requirements of the National Institute of Standards and Technologies’ (NIST) Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) 201, also known as Personal Identity Verification (PIV) of federal employees and contractors. Designed for interoperability and remote administration, the SureAccess solution easily integrates with many existing physical access control systems and supports the technical specifications of the Transportation Security Administration's (TSA) Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) program.
SureAccess is based on the same Saflink contactless smart card and biometric reader technology previously deployed by the TSA as part of TWIC Phase III. Rated IP65 for dust and moisture resistance, the system is ideal for outdoor deployments in extreme conditions. SureAccess allows seaports, airports and other critical facilities to deploy a standardized credential that enables workers to use the same smart card to gain entry at multiple sites. The product, also being utilized by the State of Florida in a deepwater seaport security initiative, is designed for broad deployment in public settings for both indoor and outdoor use.
“Ensuring that only authorized individuals gain access to critical infrastructure, such as ports, is vital to Homeland Security,” said Kate McCurdy, Public Sector Technology Analyst, Datamonitor. "Reliable, biometrically enabled, weather-resistant access card readers are an important component of an effective access control system.”
“Our SureAccess reader is a proven solution," said Glenn Argenbright, CEO of Saflink. “The technology has been implemented in TWIC Phase III and the State of Florida deep water port programs. In these deployments, we learned the importance of manufacturing an all-weather biometric device capable of operation in extreme port conditions as well as the need for flexible integration with existing physical access systems to minimize infrastructure cost upgrades.”
The SureAccess reader is designed to meet federal government standards for PIV compliance where standard photo ID cards are replaced with tamper resistant, biometrically enabled smart cards to create a secure credential. To gain access to a site, a worker simply places the card near the reader and touches a sensor to scan and encode his or her fingerprint as a value. In seconds, the reader verifies the worker’s identity and a central system authenticates the request, opening the security gate. Biometric credentials virtually eliminate the threat of tampering with an employee’s identity, while allowing workers to carry a single credential instead of multiple ID cards.
SureAccess products are showcased in the Saflink FIPS 201 evaluation lab in Reston, Virginia. For more information about SureAccess, please contact Saflink at 877-241-4717.
About Saflink
Saflink Corporation offers biometric security and smart card solutions that protect intellectual property, secure information assets and eliminate passwords. Saflink Identity Assurance Management solutions allow administrators to verify identity and control access to computer networks, physical facilities and applications. Winner of six awards in 2005, Saflink and its solutions have been recognized by organizations such as Frost & Sullivan and Software Magazine’s Software 500. For more information, please visit http://www.saflink.com or call 800-762-9595.
NOTE: “SureAccess” is a trademark and “Saflink” is a registered trademark of Saflink Corporation.
This release contains information about management’s view of the company’s future expectations, plans and prospects that constitute forward-looking statements for purposes of the safe harbor provisions under The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Actual results may differ materially from historical results or those indicated by these forward-looking statements as a result of a variety of factors. For example, our reliance on third party technologies for some specific technology elements of our solutions and our reliance on third parties for manufacturing could impair our ability to develop and deliver products or hurt our ability to compete in the market. In addition, despite our product testing efforts and testing by current and potential customers, it is possible that errors will be found in new products or enhancements after commencement of commercial shipments. The occurrence of product defects or errors could result in adverse publicity, delay in product introduction, diversion of resources to remedy defects, loss of or a delay in market acceptance, or claims by customers against us, or could cause us to incur additional costs, any of which could adversely affect our business. Other risks and uncertainties include those associated with our financial condition, our ability to sell products, our ability to maintain the proprietary nature of our technology and our intellectual property, our ability to compete with competitors and the growth of the security market, and those detailed in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, as well as other documents we periodically file with the Securities and Exchange Commission. We encourage you to read those documents.
Saflink PRESS CONTACT:
Sterling Communications
Lindsay Stril
(253) 853-5030
lstril@sterlingpr.com
INVESTOR RELATIONS CONTACT:
Investor Awareness, Inc.
Tony Schor
(847) 945-2222
tony@investorawareness.com