BANK tech-trends News
 

December 31 - January 4, 2008

• Hardware News
• Software Updates
• ATMs/Kiosks
• Biometric Digest Highlights
• Wireless World
• Security Section
• Leaders Roundtable
• Technology and Marketing
• Online Banking/E-Commerce/
  Website Design
• Internet Access
• Call Centers

Hardware News

London-based 1E Ltd. is a global company with over 1000 clients that wants to help you save energy. Their NightWatchman power management software puts desktop computers and monitors in your locations into power-saving mode after a period of inactivity, overriding any personal settings. Another 1E product, SMSWakeup, automatically "wakes up" those machines after hours to deliver patches and updates, shutting them down again when the process is complete. 

A company called Availia has released a low cost check imager called CheckNique that is designed to extend RDC (remote deposit capture) to small and mid-sized users. They say that the unit offers a rich set of functionality, including single pass color scanning, auto thickness adjustment, MICR capture and digital endorsement. They claim that it delivers image quality that surpasses scanners twice its price point, as well as superior reliability. 

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ATMs/Kiosks

Using core technology delivered by the Cisco Security Agent (CSA), Wincor Nixdorf has developed their Platform Security Agent (PSA). The German ATM manufacturer says that PSA is dedicated to the specific needs of self-service terminals and their operating environments. PSA does not require signatures and protects not only against unsolicited software distribution, installation and usage, but also against the use of unauthorized hardware such as USB drives, removable devices and keyboards. 

NCR is expanding its currency management offerings with a three-tiered approach that ranges from basic execution of the cash ordering process to re-engineering of replenishment schedules based on analysis of historical cash usage. NCR says that their service can result in a 10- to 25-percent reduction in the amount of cash within the ATM network. Through careful evaluation of peak times, upcoming events and usage trends, NCR says that it is able to optimize cash management efficiency to such a degree that it can result in average savings of $500 to $2,000 per ATM annually.

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The FBI is embarking on a $1 billion project to build the world's largest computer database of biometrics to give the government more ways to identify people at home and abroad. The FBI has already started compiling digital images of faces, fingerprints and palm patterns in its systems. The system, called Next Generation Identification, will also retain the fingerprints of employees - at an employer's request - who have undergone criminal background checks.

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TowerGroup estimates that just more than 1 million consumers are using mobile banking at the end of 2007. However, other analysts are quick to point out that mobile-banking adoption rates, in general, remain relatively low. SMS/text messaging, which has been well received for alerts, is expected to be the first step toward more wide spread mobile banking adoption. That is because SMS technology is said to be the easiest mobile option, since it can reach massive numbers of users and doesn’t require Web access. In fact, TowerGroup calls SMS "the bread and butter of mobile banking."

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A new website is promising to help speed IT security intelligence gathering, analysis, and research. Emerging Threats, a community-based, grant-funded security research project, aims to become a centralized repository and distribution point of defensive security tools and data. The site is closely partnered with Cyber-TA, a security research organization, and among its first offerings will be defensive tools and signatures based on Cyber-TA's intelligence gathering tools. 

Increasingly, host-based firewalls are becoming "location-aware." In action if a laptop is in the office, the firewall will be disabled or very relaxed; if it is anywhere else, it will operate at maximum protection levels. Location-aware firewalls work by analyzing network characteristics assigned through DHCP-like IP address, subnet, gateway, and DNS servers. If the network properties match pre-defined parameters, then a specific set of firewall rules are applied. Yet some security experts urge IT Departments not to overlook the importance of stringent firewall rules when the host is within the internal network.

- Detect and prevent internal and external attacks on your network
- Meet compliance standards and guidelines such as FFIEC

Banks are mandated to implement controls for ensuring the integrity of customer data and information systems. Log Management solutions that consistently monitor, store and analyze log data are essential components of a defense in depth program for protecting these critical assets.

EventTracker from Prism Microsystems secures IT networks from cyber attacks and insider-threats by automating the real time collection, analysis and storage of event logs from all sources. EventTracker provides a unique capability that integrates real-time log correlation and in-depth analysis capabilities with change management. This comprehensive security management approach allows you to quickly detect vulnerabilities and remediate them before costly data breaches occur. EventTracker comes integrated with over 1000 targeted reports to prove to auditors that internal processes are in tune with policies and appropriate safeguards are in place.

Deployed at dozens of credit unions and over 600 companies worldwide, EventTracker is a powerful, cost-effective solution that is highly scalable yet easy to implement and maintain.

Download a free trial and get further information at www.eventlogmanager.com

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Security:

Perimeter, Host and Endpoint Security – Finding the Right Mix

Arcot - http://www.arcot.com   Read R. 'Doc' Vaidhyanathan's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Arcot.pdf

Astaro - http://www.astaro.com Read Alex Quinonez's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Astaro.pdf

Code Green Networks - http://www.codegreennetworks.com   Read Brian Czarny's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/CGN.pdf

Digital Resolve - http://www.digital-resolve.net Read Dennis Maicon's comments: http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/DigitalResolve.pdf

e-DMZ Security - http://www.e-dmzsecurity.com   Read Kris Zupan's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/e-DMZ.pdf

HEIT - http://www.goheit.com   Read Dan Holt's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Heit.pdf

Integrated Computer Solutions - http://www.icsinc.com   Read Stephen Goldsby's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/ICS.pdf

MagTek - http://www.magtek.com   Read Kiran Gandhi's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/MagTek.pdf

Netsecuris - http://www.netsecuris.com   Read Leonard Jacobs' comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Netsecuris.pdf

Perimeter eSecurity - http://www.perimeterusa.com   Read Kevin Prince's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Perimeter.pdf

Proofpoint - http://www.proofpoint.com   Read Sandra Vaughan's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Proofpoint.pdf

Sydel - http://www.sydelcorp.com   Read Antonio Gonzalez's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Sydel.pdf

TraceSecurity - http://www.tracesecurity.com   Read Jim Stickley's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/TraceSecurity.pdf

TriGeo Network Security - http://www.trigeo.com   Read Michelle Dickman's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/TriGeo.pdf

ZixCorp - http://www.zixcorp.com   Read Dena Bauckman's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/Zix.pdf

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Infusion Software offers a web-based CRM (customer relationship management) software package called Infusion CRM. It is geared towards smaller businesses and provides the tools they need for follow-up marketing on and offline. The company also offers a white paper entitled "Top 10 Tips for Marketing Automation Online" that highlights the key ways to achieve marketing automation online.

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Online Resources released the results of a survey of U.S. households and billers regarding the effect of the current mortgage crisis on bill payment and collection patterns. The survey shows that fallout from the mortgage sector is spilling over into the broader economy, impacting companies across industries and their ability to collect payments. The report also noted that the majority of consumers prefer the web channel for making delinquent payments, due to its convenient and non-confrontational nature. Other specific findings include:

- One out of four households report being delinquent on at least one bill, by 30 days or more;
- If forced to choose between which bills to pay, 98 percent of households would likely pay their mortgage first; 
- Credit card, phone, healthcare, utility and loan payments are among the groups of bills that are least likely to be paid.

Large-value transactions are almost never conducted with cash; the convenience and cost savings of electronic payments have attracted virtually all of the volume for large-value transactions as far back as 20 years ago. Consumers still choose to carry and use cash for low-value transactions in spite of the alternatives because of some of its qualities: cash remains widely accepted and it offers the user anonymity. Because using cash involves no third party and no one keeps records of its use, it is difficult to get an idea of how much cash people are using now and how this compares to the past. But the Federal Reserve Bank has come up with some formulas and useful generalizations, and we will cover them in the upcoming issue of BANK tech-trends - subscribe now.

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Internet Access

Taridium is a next generation VoIP solutions provider that provides both enterprise PBX solution and IPBX systems. They also offer a call-recording solution, a unified voicemail solution, and an on premise conferencing solution, as well as an IPBX mobile interface. The firm touts that one of the big advantages of the Taridium IPBX mobile interface is that users can access internal PBX extensions directly from their mobile phone with a single click.

Voice broadcast is an alternative to email and can be especially useful in disaster recovery situations for communicating with employees. Voice broadcasts can also be used to confirm or reschedule consumer appointments, take a customer service survey or collect feedback from customers. Voice broadcast can include an option to transfer to an organization's office and make an appointment during the call. One company that offers a Web-Based Voice Broadcast service is Ifbyphone.

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Call Centers

Aberdeen Research has come out with a report that examines "Best in Class (BIC)" contact centers. Aberdeen classified BIC organizations according to the tracking of their improvements in three key performance indicators (KPIs). These KPIs included caller satisfaction, where these companies improved by 62%; average call duration time, which was improved by 50%; and call abandonment rate, which companies improved by 40%. Some key technologies that these BIC contact centers utilize include: distributed agents working from home; online knowledge management systems; speech recognition; and enhanced IVR and self-service technologies.

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