BANK tech-trends News
 

April 14 - April 18, 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

Seagate Technology is adding a self-encrypting capability to its Cheetah 15K disk drive based on a specification promulgated by the Trusted Computing Group. The TCG Storage Architecture Core Specification 1.0 defines a way that storage system drives will recognize encryption and decryption security commands and authorization requests. The encryption key is inside the drive and never leaves it. The type of encryption supported in the Seagate self-encrypting process is the Advanced Encryption Standard. 

CTS North America has introduced the L40 check reader to North America. The new MICR reader joins the company’s L70 MICR and OCR check reader. The L40 check reader is a compact device that reads MICR code at 800mm/sec, and connects to other equipment using standard USB or Serial ports.

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ATMs/Kiosks

NCR announced the completion of certification testing for its new NCR SelfServ family of ATMs with strategic switch partners ACI Worldwide, Postilion, a division of S1 Corporation, and Fidelity National Information Systems, formerly eFunds Corporation. NCR said that the certification process reflects an important industry requirement to quality check and test all new software and hardware planned for integration into a financial self-service channel. 

ATM manufacturer Wincor Nixdorf has partnered with FedEx Global Supply Chain Services to enhance its service and repair offerings through its service division. Wincor Nixdorf expects to maintain parts inventories at select FedEx Kinko’s locations, thereby establishing forward-stocking outlets in all Wincor Nixdorf service areas. Wincor Nixdorf service technicians will contact FedEx Kinko’s locations when they need to pick up or have parts delivered. Plus, a dedicated website on www.fedex.com allows Wincor Nixdorf customers to place orders, manage inventory and obtain order and shipment status.

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ERF Wireless from League City, TX is targeting banks with its secure wireless network. ERF installs point-to-point Orthogon radio systems from Motorola to replace landlines. Along with the 5.84 GHz Orthogon transmission systems, ERF adds its proprietary CryptoView encryption hardware using triple DES standards. ERF insists that branches use a business process that requires any changes to the network routing be approved by two managers using both biometric and password access.

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Mobile banking proponents like to point out that there are three times as many mobile phone subscribers today as PC owners, and that banks should consider mobile banking as an “offensive weapon” to engage affluent customers, as well as business professionals, frequent travelers, Generation X and Y, and the underbanked. However, banks have quite a bit of due diligence to perform when choosing among more than 70 mobile banking vendors in the market. The choice is also complicated by the various pros and cons of delivering mobile access via a downloadable application, or so-called “thick client;” over a mobile Internet site, or “thin client;” or by text message. 

AirTight Networks plans to launch software-as-a-service (SaaS) for securing wireless LANs. AirTight, known for its wireless intrusion prevention system (WIPS) products, will launch SpectraGuard Online which will include hardware sensors installed in business sites, but moves the security auditing and information reporting out into the Internet “cloud.” The goal is to make wireless auditing and security more affordable by charging $50 per sensor per month.

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Verizon Business Security Solutions announced data leak protection services designed to watch for and block unauthorized transmissions of content such as customer records, Social Security numbers and credit card information. Verizon's content-filtering services are based on data security products from IronPort Systems (a Cisco business unit), Websense and Trend Micro, as well as a resale of the cloud-based MessageLabs service. Prices for Verizon's data leak protection services will typically range from $400 to $2,500 per month.

SonicWall has rolled out its next-generation UTM (unified threat management) firewall appliance geared for the enterprise. The Network Security Appliance E7500 offers 1.3Gbps of UTM performance, which the firm says makes UTM features, including IPS (intrusion prevention system), antivirus, antispyware, and content filtering cost effective because they can run at gigabit speeds.

USB manufacturer SanDisk has released a study that found that 77 percent of corporate end-users surveyed have admitted to using personal flash drives for work-related purposes. However, when asked to estimate what percentage of the workforce uses personal flash drives, corporate IT respondents said only 35 percent. Users meanwhile admitted that data files most likely to be copied to a personal flash drives includes customer records (25 percent), financial information (17 percent), business plans (15 percent), employee records (13 percent), marketing plans (13 percent), intellectual property (6 percent), and source code (6 percent).

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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

Network Box - http://www.networkboxusa.com   Read Pierluigi Stella's comments:   http://www.banktt.com/roundtable/NetworkBox.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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Although rewards programs have been effective tools for credit card issuers for almost 25 years, drastic changes to the U.S. economy have made many current programs less relevant to consumers, according to TowerGroup. TowerGroup advises issuers to ensure that loyalty programs not only cause customers to aspire to potential benefits (e.g., a high-end vacation), but also consider using card rewards to improve credit management. This approach would include rewards options such as cash-based credits that can be applied to open balances, stimulating good consumer credit behavior and motivating them to pay down their balances. Finally, the research firm believes that reward card issuers will be impacted by four significant consumer trends in 2008: credit quality deterioration; revenue pressure; fragile economy; and vulnerable consumers.

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MasterCard is rolling out a new debit-processing platform for card issuers that it calls Integrated Processing Solutions. IPS handles everything from ATM and signature- and PIN-based debit card transactions to prepaid cards. IPS uses Computer Sciences’ CAMS system for cardholder processing, and ACI Worldwide’s Base24-eps system for clearing, settlement, and related payment functions. IPS also includes fraud control and workflow components. IPS’s first customer is Security Service Federal bank in San Antonio.

Social lending pioneer Zopa has won an award from Retail Banker International, a global trade publication that tracks and analyzes issues facing the retail financial services industry. The publication recognized Zopa as the "Most Threatening Non-bank Competitor." In winning the award, Zopa edged out runners-up including PayPal, Wal-Mart, Vodafone and
Prosper.

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Internet Access

We recently covered Avaya's Unified Communications for Small Business solution, but one key point about it is that it is designed to help with disaster recovery and telecommuter situations. Avaya builds a VPN client into the IP Phone hardware itself. When plugged into a broadband router, the VPN client automatically establishes an encrypted link back to the office system for secure calls. The Avaya phone hardware makes security easy, a huge plus for banks of all sizes. 

Allworx has partnered with Novus, a distributor of TDM and VoIP phone equipment, to target small to medium-sized organizations. Allworx products now available through Novus include the Allworx 6x and 24x VoIP communications systems, and the Allworx 9112, 9102 and the latest 9200 IP phone series. Novus is also distributing a series of Allworx software options, including Call Assistant, Call Queuing, Conference Center, and Dual-Language Packs, which include Spanish and English language support. Novus also sells Nortel, NEC, SNOM, and Vodavi products.

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Call Centers

Avoke, a subsidiary of BBN, is offering contact centers a powerful on-demand analytics solution dubbed Call Browser. Centers can use the product — which requires no software, no integration and no large capital investment — for a few months to glean caller data, or they can use it all year for continuous improvements to processes. Comprehensive analytics automatically update continuously after each call terminates. Centers can find out why callers contact them and track call resolution and respond proactively to changes in caller behavior.

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