Biometric-based authentication applications include workstation, network and physical access, single sign-on, data security and retail payment alternatives. Trust in these electronic transactions is essential to the healthy growth of the global economy. Utilized alone or integrated with other technologies such as smart cards, encryption keys and digital signatures, biometrics are set to appear in nearly all aspects of the economy and our daily lives.

Utilizing biometrics for personal authentication is becoming convenient and considerably more accurate than current methods such as the utilization of passwords or PINs. This is possible as biometrics links authentication to a particular individual and not a password or token that might be used by someone other than an authorized user. Biometric security has become a convenient, inexpensive and accurate way of verifying a person s identity by eliminating the need to carry cards and/or remember passwords. It has also proven to be an effective way of minimizing security breaches while providing a thorough and detailed audit trail when unauthorized access becomes an issue.