SecuGen offers a line of authentication software products that work in conjunction with their peripheral biometric hardware and enable users to logon to a Windows or Novell network using their fingerprints instead of passwords.

SNAP--or Secure Network Authentication Platform--provides the ability to login to a Windows (Active Directory) based network. The platform consists of two modules. The server component installs on the Windows server (2000/2003) operating as the Primary Domain Controller and provides the Active Directory supported authentication module. The client installs on the individual machines (along with the actual peripheral scanners) and provides functions including Windows logon and session locking. Fingerprint profiles provide the necessary association between the user's biometric ID and their actual Windows account. The client can be configured to provide a standard user/ID and password based login in addition to biometric identification, or can be configured to allow only biometric identification.

A management console allows for the general management of fingerprint profiles including allowing for the enrollment of multiple fingers for a single account; as well as for the viewing of log files. Fingerprint storage can reside on either the local or a networked machine, the latter allowing a user to logon to any client-equipped computer on the network.

SecuGen Enterprise NMAS Login Method allows for biometric authentication to Novell's eDirectory. Like the Windows-based SNAP offering, the NMAS (Novell Modular Authentication Service)-based product is served with both a client component, which communicates with the Novell client and enables fingerprint logins; and the server component that authenticates the users to eDirectory. Up to 10 fingers can be enrolled via GUI wizards; and the platform is managed via a ConsoleOne snap-in.

New features in the latest release of the Novell-based platform include the ability to set system-wide and/or user-specific security thresholds in ConsoleOne, with the higher setting taking precendence at login; the ability to delete fingerprint credentials in ConsoleOne; a diagnasotic tool allowing admins to know if a user's fingerprint already exists in the directory; and self-registration.

Existing peripheral scanners offered by the vendor as of this writing include stand alone USB (the "Hamster" product line), and keyboard and mouse-interfaced fingerprint scanners. Each connects to the client computer via a USB (1.1) interface.

Both SNAP and the NMAS Login Method are available now. For the NMAS Login Method, the starter kit comes with 10 client licenses at a base price of $249.99. Additional clients begin at $29.99 per user. For SNAP, the starter kit comes with 20 client licenses at a base price of $920. Additional clients begin at $46.00 per user.

Contact SecuGen for further information.